By Elliot Foster

Nick Blackwell was rushed to hospital on Saturday night after collapsing in the ring.

The Trowbridge middleweight slumped to the canvas in the aftermath of his defeat to Chris Eubank Jr. at the SSE Arena, Wembley.

Blackwell, who was defending his British title, looking to retain it for a third time and get it for keeps, had his efforts halted by the ringside physician after a bad haematoma to the left eye forced the intervention of the referee inside 10 punishing rounds.

Eubank Jr., the son of famous former world champion Chris Eubank Sr., dominated the encounter and delivered a barrage of punches for the majority of the fight and he celebrated the victory in his corner as the verdict of Paisley’s Victor Loughlin was read out, but attention quickly turned to the welfare of Blackwell, just 25, as he fell to the floor.

He was immediately provided with oxygen before being led out of the ring on a stretcher to be tended to by on-site paramedics before going into a waiting ambulance, which took him to a London hospital.

Robert Smith, the general secretary at the British Boxing Board of Control, who sanctioned the fight, told ringside reporters that Blackwell “had immediately received a scan in hospital, where it was discovered that he had suffered a small bleed, and medical experts were taking full care of him and would make a decision on whether to operate”.

Blackwell has now been placed into a medically-induced coma after suffering the bleed, but we await further –– hopefully more positive –– news regarding his condition.

All at Boxing Scene wish Blackwell a speedy recovery.