Raven Chapman says she will probably never fight again after brain bleed

The Norwich-born former world title challenger believes trainer Stuart Scott's quick call for an ambulance may have saved her life after she collapsed following sparring in Denmark on 24 July.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Wed 28 Oct, 18:11 UK · AI-assisted reporting

raven chapman on recovery graphic — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Raven Chapman has said she will probably never hold a boxing licence again after suffering a bleed on the brain that left her in a medically induced coma over the summer.

The 32-year-old from Norwich, who trains at Warriors Gym in High Wycombe, collapsed after a sparring session in Denmark on 24 July. She was airlifted to hospital and diagnosed with a brain haematoma and cerebral oedema. Surgery stopped the bleeding and helped to stabilise the swelling.

Chapman credits her trainer, Stuart Scott, with acting before her condition worsened. She said the pair had done hundreds of sparring rounds together and that he called an ambulance because she was not acting like herself. She said: “I sat down and then it all sort of happened after that, luckily with where I was at the time, I think in under an hour from when the ambulance was called I was then into surgery.” She described the injury as a freak one that she never expected to happen to her, saying she had felt fine going into what was her third spar of that week.

Chapman fought for the WBC featherweight title in October 2024, losing to Skye Nicolson in the only women's world title fight held in Saudi Arabia. She won 10 of her 12 professional fights.

She admitted that giving up on what she had hoped to achieve in the sport would be hard to accept. She said: “I probably would never get a licence again after this.” Even if she were cleared, she said, she would probably not want to put her loved ones through the same pain again. She added that she may one day help other boxers reach their goals.

An online fundraiser to bring her back to the UK and pay for her long-term recovery raised £97,792. Her promoters Queensberry, Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn and Most Valuable Promotions' Nakisa Bidarian were among the leading donors. Former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith, who trained alongside Chapman when she was based in Bournemouth, was among many professional boxers to send video messages of support. Chapman said she would use the money to make sure she gets everything she needs to recover, because that is why people donated.

Chapman used a wheelchair in the early stages of her recovery but put on a pair of gloves again this week. She said: “As much as I may never spar again or fight again, I can still do the craft and hit the pads and hit the bags and enjoy it.”

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Skye Nicolson