Wikipedia

Beethaeven Scottland

Beethaeven "Bee" Scottland (January 11, 1975 – July 1, 2001) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1995 until 2001. Scottland's career record was 20-7-2, with nine of his victories coming by knockout. He was knocked out twice in his professional career. He died of injuries suffered in his final match.

Beethavean Scottland
Born(1975-01-11)January 11, 1975
North Brentwood, Maryland, US
DiedJuly 1, 2001(2001-07-01) (aged 26)
New York City, New York, US
Other namesHoney Bee
Statistics
Weight(s)Super Middleweight
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins20
Wins by KO9
Losses7
Draws2
No contests0

Background

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Beethaeven Scottland was named after composer, Ludwig van Beethoven.[1] His mother was a corrections officer and his father was a classical pianist.[2] He was one of eight children and grew up in Brentwood, Maryland, in the Washington, DC suburbs.[2]

Boxing career

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Scottland began boxing at age 12 in the basement of his first trainer Derek Matthews.[3] He would go on to fight 77 bouts as an amateur.[4] As he began winning Golden Gloves bouts, Scottland began training with Adrian Davis at Round One Boxing in Capitol Heights, Maryland.[5]

Scottland made his professional debut in 1995.[3] The next year, he married Denise Lewis, a childhood friend.[4] Scottland shared that boxing had helped him turn his life around after making poor choices in childhood. He credited the sport and training regime to helping him be a better father and husband,[6] explaining,

" I don’t party. I get up at 5 in the morning to run. I train. I’m in the gym every day. I come home and be a father to my kids, and a husband to my wife. That’s it.”

Scottland competed as a super middleweight[7] in bouts around the Baltimore and Washington, DC suburbs.[8][9] Alongside boxing, Scottland worked as a pest exterminator in Hyattsville, Maryland to support his family.[10]

Professional results

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20 Wins (9 knockouts, 11 decisions), 7 Losses, 2 Draws[11]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss 20-7-2   George Khalid Jones TKO 10 2001-06-26   U.S.S. Intrepid, New York, New York, USA
Win 20–6-2   Roosevelt Walker TKO 7 2000-08-01   Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Win 19-6-2   Darren Whitley UD 8/8 2000-07-12   Martin's West, Woodlawn, Maryland, USA
Loss 18-6-2   Thomas Tate UD 10/10 2000-03-23   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 18-5-2   Jerome Hill PTS 4/4 1999-12-11   Springfield, Virginia, USA
Loss 17–5-2   Allen Watts MD 6/6 1999-11-19   DC Armory, Washington, D.C., USA
Win 17-4-2   James Mullins TKO 4 1999-10-23   Springfield, Virginia, USA
Win 16–4-2   James Mullins TKO 1 1999-08-27   Annandale, Virginia, USA
Win 15–4-2   Arnold Fountain SD 12 1999-05-13   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 14–4-2   Jerome Hill PTS 4/4 1999-03-24   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 13–4-2   James Gatlin TKO 5/6 1998-11-12   Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Win 12–4-2   Dennis McKinney UD 6/6 1998-09-24   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Loss 11–4-2   John James KO 6/6 1997-10-24   Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Win 11–3-2   Anthony Harris KO 1 1997-10-06   Washington, D.C., USA
Loss 10–3-2   Eric Harding UD 8 1997-06-29   Dressler Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Loss 10–2-2   Eric Harding UD 4 1997-01-10   Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Draw 10–1-2   Bernice Barber SD 10/10 1996-09-26   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 10–1-1   Ray Healy PTS 6/6 1996-08-23   Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Win 9–1-1   Berry Butler KO 6/6 1996-06-20   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 8–1-1   Valery Pestovsky PTS 6/6 1996-05-17   Washington, D.C., USA
Win 7–1-1   Ron Woodley TKO 3 1996-02-15   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Loss 6–1-1   Allen Watts TKO 6 1995-11-21   Convention Center, Washington, D.C., USA
Draw 6–0-1   Robert Thomas PTS 6 1995-10-11   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 6–0   Alphonso Dyer PTS 6/6 1995-09-14   Martin's Crosswinds, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
Win 5–0   Wes Sivills TKO 1 1995-08-30   Washington, D.C., USA
Win 4–0   Calvin Moody TKO 4 1995-05-25   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 3–0   Ed Bryant PTS 4 1995-05-12   Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA
Win 2–0   Derrick Stinson KO 4 1995-03-24   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
Win 1–0   Stan Braxton UD 4 1995-02-02   Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA

Final fight

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On June 26, 2001, Scottland stepped in the ring to face George Khalid Jones as part of an ESPN2 telecast from aboard the USS Intrepid museum ship in New York City. The fight was promoted by Dino Duva, Jones' manager. Scottland was a late replacement for David Telesco, who at the time was a championship contender who only a year earlier had fought and lost to Roy Jones Jr. for the undisputed championship at light heavyweight.

"Whoever I fight...I just hope I don't kill him."

George Khalid Jones, prior to the bout

At the time, Scottland was preparing to fight Dana Rucker in the super middleweight division for the Maryland State belt. Rucker pulled out of the fight with an injury, opening the opportunity for Scottland to fight Jones.[4]

Prior to the fight, Scottland considered giving up boxing prior to the fight, but was struggling financially,[12] and encouraged by the $8,000 purse and opportunity to appear on primetime television.[13] It was the largest purse of his career.[2]

Jones had a height and weight advantage on Scottland, who was three inches shorter and ten pounds lighter.[13] Scottland usually fought as a super middleweight, but moved up a division to fight Jones as a light heavyweight.[5]

 
Interior deck of the USS Intrepid, the vessel where the fight took place

The overmatched Scottland lasted into the tenth round of the fight, but had been hit with many flush shots from Jones throughout the fight. By the end of the fourth round, Jones landed 64 more punches than Scottland.[10] Commentator Max Kellerman, who was calling the fight for ESPN2 that evening, said numerous times on the broadcast that the fight should have been halted, as early as the fourth round.[14] When trapped in a corner in the fifth round, Scottland took twenty-five consecutive punches to the head, without the referee intervening. In the tenth round, Jones knocked Scottland to the canvas and was counted out having not risen to his feet.[15] Scottland had to be helped from the ring, and shortly afterwards fell into a coma.[16]

Aftermath

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Scottland died six days later on July 1, 2001 at Bellevue Hospital Center.[17] He never regained consciousness after falling into a coma.[18] His official cause of death was classified as "blunt impacts to the head with subdural haematoma"[19] sustained in the fight.[20] Scottland was survived by his wife Denise Scottland and four children.[21] Scottland's death left a considerable impact on the Washington Beltway boxing community. Local promoters and fighters considered Scottland's loss a tragedy as he was highly regarded and well liked by everyone.[22] Boxer Hasim Rahman, who shared a trainer with Scottland and trained at the same gym paid for Scottland's funeral expenses.[5][23]

Critiques

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Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. was criticized in the media for years afterward for allowing Scottland to continue fighting. Critics, including Jack Newfield, put the blame on authorities, the referees and medical staff as well as the lack of medical and regulatory negligence of the boxing industry.[12] Kellerman, who was ringside at the fight, placed the blame on the athletic commission, and blamed himself for not doing more while he was commentating on air.[24] The New York State Assembly called for an investigation on conduct by ringside physician Barry D. Jordan for not stopping the fight.[25]

Later that month, Scottland's story appeared on the ABC television network's "Nightline" program, sparking a national conversation about increasing safety in the sport.[26][27]

Scottland's death was the fourth death of a boxer in New York since 1979.[27] Two months after the fight, New York Governor George Pataki replaced Mel Southard as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, in an attempt to improve standards around boxing regulation.[12][28]

Scottland's widow later sued New York officials and boxing promoter Dino Duva for responsibility over her husband's death.[29][30]

George Khalid Jones

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Jones was seriously affected by Scottland's death. Shortly after the fight, Jones, announced that he would be retiring from the ring, feeling responsible for what happened. Bee's widow Denise Scottland would later reach out to Jones to tell him she did not blame him for her husband's death, and to encourage him to continue fighting.[13] The two later forged a friendship.[31]

Jones returned to the ring to fight Eric Harding in December 2001. In the ring, he wore trunks with "Bee R.I.P." stitched on them.[13]

On September 30, 2005, Jones fought Glen Johnson in a bout with the winner to face Clinton Woods for the IBF light heavyweight title. Jones was knocked out in the tenth round.[32]

References

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  1. ^ By (2000-03-23). "A fighter with a big name to live up to; Beethoven Scottland faces IBF's No. 2-ranked fighter". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ a b c "Fallen Boxer Had Known Risks". ABC News. July 9, 2001. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  3. ^ a b "BOXING; Boxer Injured in Fight Aboard Carrier Dies".
  4. ^ a b c "BOXING; A Boxer's Tale: Dreams of Fame End in Death".
  5. ^ a b c "BOXING; Medical Examiner Is Still Trying to Determine Exact Cause of Boxer's Death". New York Times.
  6. ^ Staff, @REALCOMBATMEDIA-Editorial (2014-10-08). "RCM HISTORICAL BOXING: Light Heavyweight Beethaeven Scottland Remembered". REAL COMBAT MEDIA. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  7. ^ By (2000-03-24). "Tate remains on target for title shot; Super middleweight wins unanimously over Scottland". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  8. ^ By (1998-11-13). "Barksdale ends up with six-round draw Baltimore light heavy tires after early rounds". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  9. ^ "Match: Beethaeven Scottland - Alphonso Dyer". fightfax.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  10. ^ a b Kram Jr., Mark. Great men die twice: the selected works of Mark Kram. "I Want to Kill Him" originally from the Philadelphia Daily News. New York : St. Martin's Griffin, [2015] 1250064996
  11. ^ "Beethaeven Scottland Professional boxing record". boxrec.com.
  12. ^ a b c Newfield, Jack (2001-10-25). "The Shame of Boxing". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  13. ^ a b c d "George Khalid Jones is trying to bounce back after a tragedy in the ring". ESPN.com. 2005-07-04. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  14. ^ Massing, Michael (2001-07-22). "The Unnecessary Death of Beethavean Scottland". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  15. ^ Video on YouTube
  16. ^ By (2001-06-28). "Md. fighter Scottland remains hospitalized in coma after KO". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  17. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (2001-07-04). "Boxer Dies From Injuries Suffered in Bout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  18. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (2001-06-28). "Boxer Endures Brain Surgery". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  19. ^ "Boxer's Autopsy Released". Washington Post. July 20, 2001.
  20. ^ ""I prayed every day that he'd live through this": What it's really like to kill in the ring". Shortlist. 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  21. ^ "Uncommon bond helps ease sorrow". baltimoresun.com. 3 August 2004. Retrieved August 3, 2004.
  22. ^ "Mulvaney: 'Surreal' boxing scene before and after 9/11". ESPN.com. 2006-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  23. ^ "ESPN.com: BOXING - Rahman to pay for Scottland's funeral expenses". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  24. ^ Ballard, Chris (September 20, 2001). "Mad Max". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  25. ^ https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2001/09000/q_a_with_dr__barry_d__jordan__chief_medical.11.aspx
  26. ^ Chapin, Dwight (August 14, 2001). "Boxing's eternal truths laid bare". SF Gate. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Coming Up on Nightline". ABC News. July 9, 2001. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  28. ^ "The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts". Newspapers.com. 2001-09-02. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  29. ^ "Boxer's Widow Sues N.Y. Officials".
  30. ^ "Scottland v. Duva Boxing, LLC, 2005 N.Y. Slip Op. 30494 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  31. ^ Worsell, Elliot (2024-09-01). "The boxer, the opponent, his wife and her son". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  32. ^ [al://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3741822]
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