The British title fight that that resulted in Nick Blackwell being put into an induced coma should have been halted three rounds earlier, according to an neurosurgeon who has operated on boxers with near-fatal brain injuries.
Peter Hamlyn was part of the team that helped save Michael Watson’s life in 1991, after the boxer sustained life-threatening head injuries in a clash with Chris Eubank Sr.
What happened to Blackwell at Wembley Arena last weekend brought back bad memories of that fight, with Watson himself writing about his ‘deja vu’ in an article for The Telegraph.
Speaking to the same newspaper, Hamlyn said that it was wrong for the fight to continue when it became clear the damage Blackwell’s head was being exposed to.
“There were two things we learnt from the case of Michael Watson 25 years ago. One was followed, one was not,” Hamlyn explained.
“The procedure in medical care was followed carefully and precisely and Mr Blackwell did not suffer hypoxia [oxygen starvation to the brain] and was medically induced into a coma.
“But the fight was not stopped when it should have been. It was clearly a one-sided fight by the seventh or eighth round, and it should have been stopped. He took too many uppercuts and he suffered a blitz.
“It seemed insane for it to go on, because only one man was going to win the fight.”
Blackwell has been under sedation since suffering a bleed to the brain in his bout with Chris Eubank Jr, though it is reported that he is making good progress, and doctors may begin to bring him round in the coming days.
The referee’s decision to let the match continue has received the backing of British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Robert Smith, who said the officials acted accordingly to the rules.
He told Sky News: “There were experienced officials refereeing there. Nick was fighting back and although he was obviously losing, he was still fit and ready to go.
“The referee felt he did the right thing and I would stand by that. We will be getting reports with regard to what went on that evening and will consider it at a later date but at the present time, from speaking to the referee and Nick’s trainer, I’m happy with the decision they made at the present time.”
