Nicky Booth dead at 40: Tributes pour in for former British boxing champion after he dies following liver failure

FORMER British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion boxer Nicky Booth has died at the age of 40.

Booth passed away at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham on Wednesday after being admitted with liver failure, his family said.

Retired boxer Nicky Booth has died at the age of 40

Devastated relatives of the troubled Nottingham fighter paid tribute to the ‘happy chappy’.

Booth spent five days in the hospital before nurses informed his family he ‘wouldn’t make it through the night’.

Known as ‘1 Smooth Nicky Booth’, he held the British bantamweight title from October 2000 to April 2003 and the Commonwealth bantamweight title from October 2000 to September 2002

His older brother, Jason Booth, was also a boxer and the pair started out at Radford Boxing Club.

Nicky’s mum Michelle Booth, 62, said: “I adored my son Nicky, I loved his cheeky smile and his banter.

“He was always a happy chappy. I will miss him so much, it has left an empty hole in my heart.”

News of Booth’s death has been met with sadness amongst the boxing world.

Former European champion Spencer Oliver, now a boxing analyst with Sky Sports, tweeted: “Just heard the sad news that former British and Commonwealth champion Nicky Booth has passed away.

“Nicky was a great little boxer, RIP Champ.”

Booth held hte British title until he retired from boxing

Irish boxing legend and promoter, Barry McGuigan, added: “So sad to hear of the passing of former British and Commonwealth Bantamweight Champion Nicky Booth. RIP.

“Deepest sympathies to his brother Jason and his family.”

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn and former GB Olympic gold medallist boxer Audley Harrison also posted tributes on Twitter.

Booth challenged once for the IBO bantamweight title in 2001 but stopped boxing professionally in 2003 after he lost a World Boxing Union title fight against Nathan Sting.

He retired at the age of just 24 with a record of 17 wins from 23 fights.

In 2004, while battling drug addiction, Booth was jailed for two years for burglary and theft.

In 2006 he was given a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to two charges of causing actual bodily harm for attacking his then fiancée, Louise Smith.

The former IBO welterweight champion Jawaid Khaliq, 50, said he had trained with both Booth brothers.

Mr Khaliq said: “I used to pick both of them up from the house on the way to Alfreton, we used to train together for four, five, six years.

“We were on quite a few shows together, we had some great nights – and some really good memories with both of them.

“Condolences to all the family from myself, to all his family and friends. He will be really missed, it’s a sad loss.”