Once Promising British Bantamweight Champion Nicky Booth Dies at Age 40
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK ( January 14th, 2020)– Former Commonwealth British Empire Bantamweight champion Nicky “1 Smooth” Booth, whose problems with drug addiction, burglary, and theft convictions derailed his once-promising career at a young age, has tragically died at age 40. No cause of death was stated.
Booth had been ill for a long time with various illnesses, with his drug addiction to cocaine having ruined him going back years. A native of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom, between 1998 and 2003 Booth compiled a career record of 17-5-1 with seven knockouts. Booth fought in seven BBBof C and Commonwealth British Empire Bantamweight regional title bouts, winning six of them, and holding both titles at one time or another. Booth fought unsuccessfully for the International Boxing Organization and World Boxing Union versions of the world bantamweight title.
Booth’s career ended with a 12 round decision loss to then-champion Nathan Sting for the WBU version of the world bantamweight title at Harvey Hadden Leisure Center in Nottingham in September 2003 at age 23. His career in effect ended at age 24 when he served two years for burglary and theft while battling an addiction to crack cocaine. In 2017, Booth was charged with punching out a supermarket security guard in the jaw who tried to apprehend him after Booth was caught stealing four tins of coffee, after stealing three tins of coffee from the same supermarket earlier in the day. Walking with a shuffle into the courtroom, and barely able to speak, Booth admitted in court he needed help and was told to pay 100 British pounds in damages to the guard. Booth, who spent the last ten years of his life going in and out of court for various infractions, never conquered the inner demons which eventually consumed him.
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