Boxer Nick Blackwell was in an induced coma following a one-sided loss. His opponent’s cornerman, former middleweight and super middleweight world champion Chris Eubank, told his son Chris Jr. to show compassion towards badly beaten opponent in between rounds.
On Saturday night, former WBA interim middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. defeated Nick Blackwell via tenth round TKO in a one-sided contest.
After Eubank Jr. had continuously landed power shots and uppercuts throughout the contest, the action was put to a halt at the 2:21 mark of the said round by referee Victor Loughlin, as advised by the ringside doctor. It was done upon noticing that Blackwell was unable to see using his left eye because of some massive swelling.
Blackwell collapsed, soon after, and was placed in a medically induced coma. Doctors at the St. Mary’s Hospital in West London then found a “small bleed” in his brain, but was deemed stable after another scan was done, two hours after.
In between rounds in the latter part of the bout, Eubank’s father Chris Sr. was adamant about his instructions for his son: end the fight using body shots, and avoid the head.
“If he doesn’t stop it and we keep beating him like this, one, he is getting hurt. Two, if it goes to a decision, why didn’t the referee stop the fight? I don’t get why,” Eubank Sr. told his son. “So maybe you shouldn’t leave it to the referee.”
“But you’re not gonna take him out to the face,” he continued. “You’re gonna take him out to the body.”
Chris Eubank Snr may have saved Nick Blackwell’s life with these words.
Shows you how dangerous boxing can be.https://t.co/EaZl6v0jJa
— Despa Robinson (@DespaStayFresh) March 27, 2016
Eubank Sr. is no stranger to this kind of situation where the opponent was already badly beaten before the referee would be able to intervene. In September 1991, he landed a hard uppercut on Michael Watson in the 12th round of their rematch, causing the latter to fall back and hit his head against the ropes.
After referee Roy Francis stopped the bout at the 0:29 mark of the round, Watson collapsed in the ring. He was in a coma for a total of 40 days, and underwent six brain surgeries.
Watson then retired from professional boxing after the fight.
Both Eubank Jr. and his father also sent their well wishes to Blackwell on social media.
@nickblackwell02 You fought a great fight tonight. May your hospital stay be short. We are wishing you a complete and restful recovery.
— Christopher Eubank (@ChrisEubank) March 27, 2016
@nickblackwell02 You put up a great fight tonight. Proved yourself a true warrior, wish you a quick recovery & a speedy return 2 the ring
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) March 27, 2016