Nick Blackwell

Career

Blackwell turned professional on 26 June 2009, having had no amateur experience and spending his teenage years in the sport as a white-collar boxer. On 18 June 2011, Blackwell challenged Martin Murray for his Commonwealth middleweight title, as well as the vacant British middleweight title. Murray handed Blackwell his first career defeat when the latter was pulled out by his corner at the end of round five.

A successful defence of the English middleweight title came on 3 March 2012, with Blackwell stopping Martin Concepcion in four rounds.

This turned out to be a tough outing for Saunders, as Blackwell forced him to go the full twelve rounds. Blackwell travelled to Ukraine on 21 September 2013 to fight for the vacant WBA Continental middleweight title, but lost a twelve-round unanimous decision to Max Bursak.

During the fight, Blackwell scored a knockdown in the fourth round, and the result was seen by some observers as controversial. Having begun training with former middleweight world title challenger Gary Lockett, Blackwell made a third attempt at the vacant British title on 30 May 2015 against John Ryder.

Two successful title defences were made in the remainder of 2015, against Damon Jones on 25 July (sixth-round stoppage), and Jack Arnfield on 14 November (unanimous decision).

During the tenth round the referee summoned the ringside doctor to assess Blackwell, who in turn deemed him unable to continue due to the swelling on his head obstructing his vision, therefore handing Eubank Junior. the victory and title. Some minutes after the fight was stopped, Blackwell was given oxygen and taken out of the arena by stretcher. He was later hospitalised with bleeding of the brain, and is currently in an induced coma, but an operation was not deemed necessary.

Achievements

• He won his first regional title on 20 November 2010, scoring a ten-round unanimous decision against Harry Matthews to become the youngest ever English middleweight champion at twenty years old. On 15 December 2012, Blackwell received a second opportunity at the Commonwealth title, this time against defending champion Billy Joe Saunders. The vacant British title was also on the line. Saunders nonetheless won a unanimous decision on the judges" scorecards, handing Blackwell his second career defeat. Blackwell achieved his most significant win, on a prominent stage at The O2 Arena in London, by stopping Ryder in seven rounds to become the British middleweight champion. In his third title defence on 26 March 2016, which would have won him the Lonsdale Belt outright, Blackwell lost to Chris Eubank, Junior. In a fast-paced fight, Eubank Junior. dominated the action using hard hooks and uppercuts, which eventually led to a bloody nose and a large swelling above Blackwell"s left eye.