Nick Blackwell: Chris Eubank Sr would have stopped the fight if his son had received same injuries

Blackwell remains in an induced coma having suffered a bleed to the brain during Saturday's British middleweight title fight

Mark Critchley
Wednesday 30 March 2016 03:03 EDT
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Chris Eubank Sr (right) with his son Chris Jr
Chris Eubank Sr (right) with his son Chris Jr (Getty Images)

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Chris Eubank Sr has said he would pull his son out of a fight if he felt he was in danger of suffering the same injuries as Nick Blackwell.

Blackwell is currently in an induced coma, having collapsed after his defeat to Eubank’s son, Chris Jr, in Saturday’s British middleweight title fight at Wembley Arena.

The 25-year-old, whose title defence was brought to an end with a 10th round stoppage, was stretchered out of the venue after suffering a bleed to the brain and currently remains in hospital.

"God willing, he's never in that position. But if he was, yes, I would have the fight stopped,” he told BBC Sport, when asked what he would have done had his son been in Blackwell’s position.

"It would alienate me from my son for life because I would pull him out. He would never forgive me. Never, even though he would be able to see that I made the right decision and the only decision a father could make.

"It's either that or his health, so it is not a difficult question," he added.

Eubank Sr, a former world middleweight and super-middleweight champion, was heard between rounds eight and nine telling his son to avoid punching Blackwell in the head.

Eubank Jr press conference

His son revealed that he took heed of Eubank Sr’s corner instructions and began to ‘ease off’ on his opponent, who had been bloodied since the fight’s early rounds.

"When my father said that… I thought that means this guy must be seriously hurt, that Nick must be in serious danger," Eubank Jr said.

"If you watch the last round, you can see me easing off. Any more punishment and the situation could have been even worse."

"We don't go in there to cause that type of damage to an opponent. It is never anything personal,” he added.

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

In 1991, Eubank Sr defeated Michael Watson in a world super-middleweight title fight which left his opponent in a coma for 40 days and requiring six operations to remove a blood clot.

The 49-year-old admits his thoughts turned to Watson on Saturday night as Blackwell sustained damage at the hands of his son.

Eubank Sr also said his son’s team would not celebrate the win until Blackwell had recovered from his injuries.

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