Scott Fitzgerald denies raping woman as undefeated boxer appears in court

Former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Fitzgerald appeared in Preston County Court on Tuesday morning, speaking only to confirm his name and deny a single count of rape

Undefeated British boxer Scott Fitzgerald denied raping a woman when appearing in court on Tuesday morning.

Fitzgerald is alleged to have raped a woman, who can not be identified for legal reasons, in April 2020. The boxer was summoned to Preston County Court on Tuesday but spoke only to confirm his name and plead not guilty to one count of rape. Judge Richard Gioserano granted him bail on the condition that he does not contact the unidentified woman. Fitzgerald will stand trial for the alleged rape on March 2 next year.

Fitzgerald turned professional two years after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2014. He started his professional journey by winning nine fights in two years, with seven of the wins coming by knockout. In the two biggest wins of his career, Fitzgerald outpointed former Commonwealth gold medalist Anthony Fowler and then won the British super-welterweight title by defeating Ted Cheeseman in 2019, but relinquished the title the following year.

The 30-year-old had his boxing license suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control in 2020 but it was later reinstated. Fitzgerald has fought just once in almost three years, a third-round stoppage of Gregory Trenel last May.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Fitzgerald said after his win. “There were times I thought I wouldn’t get back here. To get back in there and come out with a stoppage is a great feeling. I was whacking some shots off his head, and at some points, he was smiling.

“I could see he was tough. In the end, he wasn’t looking to throwback, and I was hitting him with some big shots. The body shots were hurting him. I think it was the right decision from the ref.