Eubank confirms mercy plea for boxer Blackwell

Former British boxer Chris Eubank confirmed on Tuesday that he told his son to stop targeting Nick Blackwell's head during a bout that left Blackwell in an induced coma.

Blackwell, 25, has been in an induced coma and was found to have suffered a small bleed on the brain after collapsing at the end of his British middleweight title defeat by Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday.

Television images appeared to show Eubank Sr telling his son not to aim for Blackwell's head during the fight, which was stopped in the 10th round by referee Victor Loughlin.

"Even in sparring, I tell Junior to stay away from the head because his punching is fast, powerful and dangerous," Eubank, a former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion, told the BBC.

"So most certainly I was saying this to protect the fighter."

Eubank Jr, 26, has expressed concern over Blackwell's condition, but said that what had happened had not moved him to consider walking away from the sport.

"No fighter wants to see the man after the fight in any type of serious condition," he said. "I'm not going in there to damage someone. I just went in to fulfil a lifelong ambition and become British champion.

"If you watch the round, you can see me easing off. As fighters, we know the risks. We know that we are risking our health every time we step in the ring."

Blackwell is reported to be in a positive condition and was due to be assessed again on Tuesday.
Source: AFP