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.

Background Beethaeven Scottland was named after composer, Ludwig van Beethoven. His mother was a corrections officer and his father was a classical pianist. He was one of eight children and grew up in Brentwood, Maryland, in the Washington, DC suburbs. He would go on to fight 77 bouts as an amateur. As he began winning Golden Gloves bouts, Scottland began training with Adrian Davis at Round One Boxing in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

Scottland made his professional debut in 1995. explaining,

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

Professional results

Loss 20-7-2

Win 20–6-2

Win 19-6-2

Loss 18-6-2

Win 18-5-2

Final fight On June 26, 2001, Scottland stepped in the ring to face George Khalid Jones as part of an ESPN2 telecast from aboard the 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.

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. and encouraged by the $8,000 purse and opportunity to appear on primetime television. It was the largest purse of his career. 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. Scottland had to be helped from the ring, and shortly afterwards fell into a coma.

Aftermath Scottland died six days later on July 1, 2001 at Bellevue Hospital Center. He never regained consciousness after falling into a coma. His official cause of death was classified as "blunt impacts to the head with subdural haematoma" sustained in the fight. Scottland was survived by his wife Denise Scottland and four children. 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. Boxer Hasim Rahman, who shared a trainer with Scottland and trained at the same gym paid for Scottland's funeral expenses.

Critiques 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. The New York State Assembly called for an investigation on conduct by ringside physician Barry D. Jordan for not stopping the fight.

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.

Scottland's death was the fourth death of a boxer in New York since 1979.

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

George Khalid Jones 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.

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.