Nick Blackwell rushed to hospital for surgery after sparring session, despite retirement following serious head injury

Nick Blackwell of England celebrates after defeating John Ryder of England during their British Middleweight Championship in May, 2015 (Picture Getty)

Former boxer Nick Blackwell is reported to be in a ‘stable condition’ in hospital after being injured during a sparring session earlier this week.

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Blackwell was forced to retire following his British middleweight title defeat to Chris Eubank Jr in March.

The 26-year-old fell ill after the controversial bout and spent a week in a medically-induced coma, having suffered bleeding on the skull.

Robert Smith, general secretary of the BBBofC, told SunSport: ‘I understand he was sparring, fell ill, was taken to hospital and then underwent a procedure.

‘I don’t know exactly what the procedure was, other than the fact they tried to relieve pressure on the brain and he’s now in a stable condition. That’s all I know.

‘I’m sickened by it. It’s a very tough sport and the doctors here did a wonderful job to save his life. The doctors at hospital saved his life and kept him going.

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‘He made remarkable recovery and for somebody to go and do what he’s done, for what I thought was a very sensible young man, is just beyond belief.’