By Elliot Foster

Nick Blackwell could be brought back to consciousness within the next 24 hours.

The middleweight boxer, who was on the wrong end of a stoppage against Chris Eubank Jr. in their British title fight last weekend, is in an induced coma at a London hospital after collapsing in the ring after the clash on Saturday.

Blackwell received emergency assistance from on-site paramedics at Wembley’s SSE Arena –– the venue at which the fight was taking place –– before being taken by ambulance to St Mary's in Paddington.

After initial assessments, it was discovered that the 25-year-old, from Trowbridge, had suffered a bleed on the brain and was being looked after in the intensive care unit at the facility.

But doctors treating him are satisfied that he has not deteriorated and are confident enough, after ruling out the need for surgery, to begin taking steps to bring him out of the coma and setting him up on the long road to recovery.

Gary Lockett, the Welsh-based trainer of ‘Bang Bang’, and his family have been at his bedside since he was admitted on Saturday night and they have been encouraged by the support they –– and Nick –– have received from the boxing community, with many high profile figures in the game sending their well-wishes via social media.

Billy Joe Saunders, who is a friend and former opponent of Blackwell, has been in constant contact with those close to him and issued an update on his condition on Monday.

He tweeted: “[I have] spoke[n] to Nick’s Dad [and it is] looking good. He will be back to us in no time.”

Neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn, meanwhile, has said that it is almost certain that Blackwell will lace up the gloves again.

Hamlyn was part of the team who helped to save the life of Michael Watson, who suffered near-fatal injuries in a fight with Chris Eubank Jr.’s Dad, Chris Sr., back in 1991.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Hamlyn said: “Hopefully because Mr Blackwell did not have hypoxia in addition to the brain injury, the swelling won’t be too bad, and over the forthcoming days the pressure in his brain will normalise, they will be able to lighten the anaesthetic and, hopefully, he will emerge with very little damage.

“But it is very unlikely that he will box again.”