The British boxer Nick Blackwell has found himself in an induced coma after suffering a bleed in the brain after a domestic title fight defeat on Saturday night.
The referee halted the largely one-sided fight against Chris Eubank Jr in the 10th round after Blackwell, who had taken heavy blows in most rounds, was deemed unable to continue by a doctor, due to swelling over his left eye.
Shortly after the fight, for Blackwell’s British middleweight title, he collapsed and had to be taken out of the ring on a stretcher with oxygen.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) general secretary, Robert Smith, said: “I spoke to one of the doctors this morning and he said there is a bleeding of the brain.
“He’s in intensive care, he’s in an induced coma and he is resting and being looked after by the experts.
“It’s a very normal procedure. They put you in a coma to get the swelling to go down. There’s no timescale. Now it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing.”
Press Association Sport quoted a source close to the Blackwell team as saying the boxer was stable and there was no swelling overnight.
Peter Fury, the trainer and uncle of the world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, tweeted that he had spoken to Blackwell’s promoter Mick Hennessy and that the prospects of recovery were encouraging. A tweet from Hennessy Sports said:
— Hennessy Sports (@HennessySports)
March 27, 2016
Thank you all for the messages of support for Nick Blackwell. We will be issuing updates when the time is right. pic.twitter.com/nGswgubNBp
According to The BBC surgeons were not planning to operate on Blackwell.
After the fight, Eubank said: “I was hitting him with some big shots and the referee saw fit to let the fight go on. Looking back now, maybe he should have stopped it earlier.”
He paid tribute to his opponent’s courage and wished him a speedy recovery. He tweeted:
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr)
March 27, 2016
Unfortunately Nick is now in an induced coma… my thoughts & prayers go out to his family & friends.
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr)
March 27, 2016
He’s a true fighter & I whole heartedly believe he will pull through. Appreciate everyone that came out to support the fight #TeamEubank
Eubank’s father, Chris Eubank Sr, who was in his son’s corner for the bout, said the incident brought back painful memories of his world title fight with
Michael Watson in 1991, which left his opponent with severe brain injuries.
Source; Guardian
