Nick Blackwell: What are the rules for stopping boxing bouts?
- Published
Boxer Nick Blackwell was put into an induced coma after suffering a bleed on the brain during his British middleweight title defeat to Chris Eubank Jr.
The referee stopped the fight after 10 rounds, saying Blackwell couldn't carry on.
Two rounds earlier, Chris Eubank Snr asked "why hasn't the referee stopped the fight?"
Some agree with him, others side with the referee. So what are the rules?
Stop at any time
The British Board of Boxing Control [BBBofC] rules state, external it is up to a referee to say if a boxer is unable to carry on and that he or she "may consult the ringside doctor at any stage".
The rules also say a boxer has "to satisfy the referee that he is in a position and condition to defend himself" to be able to continue.
There has to be at least two doctors at every fight, with one "practised in the management of an unconscious or partially conscious patient".
After speaking to a doctor in the tenth round the referee took the advice that Blackwell was unable to continue because of swelling over his left eye.
He was then taken to hospital on a stretcher, something the BBBofC says should be ringside at all times, and put an induced coma.
'Eubank called it right'
At the end of the eighth round Chris Eubank Snr - who was in a fight in 1991 which saw his opponent Michael Watson suffering brain damage - spoke to his son in the corner of the ring.
On camera, he was heard saying: "I don't know what to tell you but I will tell you this... If he doesn't stop it and you keep on beating him like this... he's going to get hurt.
"Why hasn't the referee stopped the fight? I don't know why."
Chris Eubank Sr (left) beat Michael Watson 25 years ago
He then told his son to stop punching Blackwell's head.
"Maybe you shouldn't leave it to the referee.
"But you are not going to take him out to the face. You are going to take him out to the body. Okay?"
The topic has been discussed on Newsbeat's Facebook page with Chris Alston writing: "It was a very difficult call as he was still defending himself and throwing punches.
"I'm not Eubank Snr's biggest fan but he called it right."
'Boxers knows the risks'
Nick Blackwell has been placed in an induced coma following the fight at Wembley's SSE Arena
The General Secretary of the BBBofC - Robert Smith - told the BBC he was satisfied the referee had conducted the fight properly and it was a "great shame" Blackwell was seriously injured.
However, he also admitted it will be impossible to make boxing totally safe.
"Every boxer who gets into a ring knows the risks," he said.
"We have everything in place as best we can. But we're never going to make it 100 per cent safe."
When asked whether boxing should be banned, he added: "What are you going to replace it with? People want to box."
Wullie Collins on Facebook wrote: "It's not a tickle fight. The sad fact is these things happen when you get paid to be punched in the face.
"The referee stopped the fight at the correct time in my opinion. Hopefully he (Blackwell) makes a full recovery."
Blackwell's corner
Some people think it was obvious that Blackwell was in trouble
The BBBofC rules also say a boxer's management team can declare them unable to fight.
Thomas David Connelly wrote: "I'm reading a lot of posts blaming the ref but why didn't Blackwell's corner throw in the towel?
"If Eubank's corner could see he was in a bad way, why didn't his own corner think 'there's something wrong' and throw in the towel."
Martin Davis also blamed Blackwell's team and added: "It should have been stopped. It had been an exhibition for two rounds, if Junior hadn't slowed up it could have been much worse."
Blackwell's promoter has said it will update fans on his condition "when the time is right".
Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat, external and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat