Scott Welch


Scott Roy Welch is a former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 1999. He challenged once for the WBO heavyweight title in 1997. At regional level, he held multiple heavyweight championships, including the British and Commonwealth titles from 1995 to 1996. As an amateur, he won the ABA heavyweight title in 1992.

Amateur career

Welch's formative years were spent in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth. Welch got into boxing at a local club. Welch moved to Brighton when he was 16 and found it "a massive wow factor after Yarmouth." At, he was too big to find a match on the amateur circuit. It took a couple more years, and some intensive coaching at the Hove ABC under Dave Brown, before his amateur career started. Over the next few years, Welch racked up an impressive amateur record of 30 wins against 8 defeats, culminating in the ABA Heavyweight title of Great Britain in May 1992. "In amateur boxing, every fight was a tough fight as we were all so well matched," Welch remembers.
Welch ended his amateur career with a record of 30-8, with five of those defeats being avenged.

Personal life

Still a fitness fanatic, Welch has raised huge sums for charity, completing the gruelling 250-mile Marathon des Sables in the Sahara, climbing Kilimanjaro and has tackled the Atacama desert. Welch is Head Trainer at the Brighton and Hove ABC, working alongside his old coach Dave Brown. "I really enjoy it," he says, "I'm putting it all back in. We've got a few good prospects, and there's a lot of younger lads coming through, too". iBoxing Trainer is Welch's smartphone app designed to help youngsters get into boxing and is approved by the World Boxing Council and the British Boxing Board of Control. By keeping things simple but comprehensive, Welch covers everything an aspiring boxer needs to get started and progress. "Learning the basics properly is vital. I wish I had something like this when I first started".
Welch is proud of his work with young boxers and has been recognised for his efforts with a WBC honorary belt. Welch purchased and restored Thorington Gate Lodge in Suffolk, which had been derelict for 20 years. The project was featured on the television series The Restoration Man in 2010.

Other ventures

Since his retirement in 1999, Welch has worked alongside his old coach Dave Brown, as head trainer at the Brighton and Hove ABC. In Guy Ritchie's bare-knuckle movie Snatch Welch played Horace 'Good Night' Anderson. His big fight scene with Brad Pitt has achieved notoriety, famously sending Pitt skyward a round before being 'knocked out'. Welch takes his acting fame with a big pinch of salt: "A film star lifestyle would be great if I hadn't done anything in my life, but I'm very pleased with what I've achieved. I've had my career. My career was boxing."
In December of 2024 he was seen in the Lewes Road Inn, Brighton, sparking rumours of a partnership between "The Brighton Rock" and this up-and-coming pub, most recently gaining popularity for its Sunday roasts.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
26Loss22–4Julius FrancisPTS1226 Jun 1999London Arena, London, EnglandFor British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles
25Win22–3Micheal MurrayPTS830 Jan 1999Europa Point Sports Complex, Gibraltar
24Win21–3Peter ObohPTS61 Nov 1997Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
23Win20–3Yuriy YelistratovTKO1, 1:0428 Jun 1997Sports Village, Norfolk, England
22Loss19–3Henry AkinwandeUD1211 Jan 1997Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.For WBO heavyweight title
21Win19–2Daniel Eduardo NetoUD89 Nov 1996MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
20Win18–2Mike SedilloTKO1 8 Jun 1996Telewest Arena, Newcastle, England
19Win17–2Joe BugnerTKO6 16 Mar 1996Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, GermanyWon vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title
18Win16–2James OyebolaTKO10 27 Oct 1995Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton, EnglandWon British and vacant Commonwealth heavyweight titles
17Win15–2Julius FrancisKO10, 2:261 Jul 1995Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandWon Southern Area heavyweight title
16Win14–2Eduardo Antonio CarranzaKO1, 1:5413 May 1995Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
15Win13–2Michael Murray810 Dec 1994G-Mex Centre, Manchester, England
14Win12–2Roger McKenzieTKO1, 1:2317 Sep 1994Leisure Centre, Crawley, England
13Loss11–2James OyebolaKO5, 1:006 May 1994Boardwalk Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant WBC International heavyweight title
12Win11–1Steve GarberTKO4, 2:3115 Mar 1994Grosvenor House, London, England
11Win10–1Carl GaffneyTKO3 21 Dec 1993Grosvenor House, London, England
10Win9–1Chris Coughlan1 30 Nov 1993Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff, Wales
9Win8–1Joey PaladinoTKO3 6 Nov 1993York Hall, London, England
8Win7–1Cordwell HyltonTKO1 5 Oct 1993Grosvenor House, London, England
7Win6–1George CarmenTKO3 28 Sep 1993York Hall, London, England
6Win5–1Des VaughanTKO2, 2:4618 Sep 1993Granby Halls, Leicester, England
5Win4–1John HarewoodTKO3, 2:0529 Jun 1993Grosvenor House Hotel, London, England
4Win3–1Denroy BryanTKO4 11 May 1993Sports Village, Norfolk, England
3Loss2–1Gary CharltonTKO3 23 Feb 1993Doncaster Dome, Doncaster, England
2Win2–0Gary Williams46 Oct 1992Arenahal, Antwerp, Belgium
1Win1–0John Williams5 8 Sep 1992Sports Village, Norfolk, England