Officer who collapsed after boxing match dies

A Phoenix police officer who collapsed following a charity boxing match last week died Tuesday afternoon at a local hospital.

Phoenix cop critical after charity boxing match

Officer Barry Scott, 22, was in critical condition Friday night following a boxing match against a Chandler firefighter at Fort McDowell Casino that was held to raise money for the 100 Club of Arizona - a nonprofit that gives money to families of law enforcement officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty.

Scott's injuries and cause of death still haven't been released. He collapsed shortly after leaving the ring and officials announced that he was on life support on Monday.

"Scott passed away late this afternoon with his family, friends and fellow officers gathered together at the hospital," said Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill in a statement. "Barry will be greatly missed by all."

Scott was a veteran of the Iraq war and joined the department in May 2007. He also has a wife and a baby.

Len Hayko of Felko Promotions, which put on the event, declined to answer any questions related to the safety of the event or what took place in the ring.

"This tragic accident was completely unforeseen," Hayko wrote in an e-mail.

Chandler fire spokesman Battalion Chief Dan Couch attended the event and said everything appeared normal to him.

"I had no idea anything was wrong, because there were at least four fights that were stopped by the referee," Couch said. "This didn't look any different from any other fight."

Couch said he watched as the two boxers walked to the middle of the ring as the winner was announced, and then they both walked off.

"I don't know what happened," Couch said.

Blair Roberts, who said he attended the event with his wife to watch a friend fight, said "anyone could see as clear as day that (Scott) was unable to win that fight."

Roberts said he jumped up toward the end of the match and waved his arms in the air, yelling, "Stop the fight!"

"He seemed kind of competitive at the beginning of the fight," Roberts said of Scott. "As it wore on ... it was blatantly obvious that he wasn't going to win the fight."

According to some spectators, including Roberts, Scott went down on the canvas a couple of times during the fight. He was checked by the referee on those occasions and got up.

Joe Joseph, a veteran referee and associate of USA Boxing, said it's important that only experienced referees are used in fights and that boxers receive medical examinations from doctors prior to entering the ring. He couldn't speak specifically about Friday's match because he hasn't seen it and wasn't involved in it.

Spectators said the boxers were wearing head protection.

The name of the firefighter who was in the ring competing against Scott hasn't been released. Couch said the firefighter went on a vacation and officials haven't spoken to him.

A person who answered the phone at Fort McDowell Police Department on Tuesday night said no one was available to release information on an investigation into the events surrounding Scott's death.