Watson relates to Blackwell after suffering brain injuries boxing Eubank Sr.
Retired boxer was injured permanently by Eubank Sr., lends support to comatose middleweight
MICHAEL WATSON last night led the prayers for Nick Blackwell.
Blackwell, 25, is in an induced coma following Saturday night’s British middleweight title fight against Chris Eubank Jr.
The Trowbridge warrior collapsed after he was stopped in the tenth round at the Wembley Arena and medics rushed him to a nearby hospital suffering with bleeding in the brain.
Former super-middleweight star Watson says he feels a huge sense of pride his life-changing fight against Eubank’s father, Chris Sr in September 1991 helped give Blackwell the best chance of recovery.
Messages of support flooded in throughout Easter Sunday — including from Eubank Snr and Jr — and Watson told the world of boxing now is the time to unite behind stricken Blackwell.
Watson, now 51, told SunSport: “What I want to say to Nick is keep up the fight — keep up the faith — that is what is crucial right now.
“He must believe in himself and keep up the fight, never give up.
“This is also a tough time for his family, friends and everyone who knows him.
“But I would tell them that where there is life there is always hope.
“It is now their job to keep the faith, like Nick will.
“The thing I know about Nick is that he is a true fighter and if I can do it, then so can he.
“Unity is truly strength — it is critical that people keep behind Nick through this and give him the support in life that he needs.
“At this time more than ever he needs unity.”
Watson’s life changed when he faced Eubank Sr for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane.
It was in the final few seconds of the 11th round when Eubank dropped Watson — who had been leading on all three scorecards — with an uppercut, which sent him to the canvas.
But Watson’s head hit the second rope on his way down, injuring his brain stem which caused serious bleeding that almost killed him.
Watson spent 40 days in a coma, six months in a wheelchair and underwent six operations on his brain.
There was scarce ringside medical assistance that night and it took 15 minutes to get Watson out of the arena which impacted gravely on his recovery.
But Watson, who sued the British Boxing Board of Control in 1999 for making inadequate medical provisions, changed the face of boxing in this country forever.
Every licensed fight in Britain must now be attended by paramedics, two ambulances and an anaesthetist, while the nearest neurological trauma unit should be within ten minutes of every venue.
On Saturday, Blackwell was given oxygen within seconds of his collapse and paramedics quickly rushed him out of the arena on a stretcher before he was taken straight to hospital.
British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Robert Smith said: “I spoke to one of the doctors and he said there is a bleeding of the brain.
“Nick’s in intensive care, he’s in an induced coma and is being looked after by the experts.
“It’s a very normal procedure. They put you in a coma to get the swelling to go down. There’s no timescale, it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing.”
Watson MBE added: “It makes me proud Nick had all the help he needed on hand.
“There was nothing for me that night, it was totally the opposite. But it made sure changes happened in boxing and they were implemented at the right time.
“I’m very proud to know I changed boxing in that way and people like Nick can be saved because of it.”
Watson also had a message of support for Eubank Jr. Eubank Sr blamed himself for Watson’s injuries and admitted he was never the same fighter again.
But Watson said: “I would say to young Chris this is not his fault, he must understand that.
“It is an accident, this is the sport we are in. I accepted that instantly when it happened to me, I forgave his father.
“Chris must stay strong, pray for Nick and everyone will get through it together.”
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