Nick Blackwell’s name has cropped up on a few occasions in recent weeks ahead of Chris Eubank Jr’s fight against George Groves this weekend.The Trowbridge-born middleweight was left in an induced coma after suffering a horrific head injury in a bout against Eubank Jr. at Wembley Arena back in March 2016.And both Eubank Jr and his father have warned the referee of this Saturday’s fight to be vigilant in order to avoid a repeat of the Blackwell incident."George is in deep water and Junior is a shark and the referee just needs to be watchful of both men,” Eubank Sr is quoted as saying by the Mirror. "I've had to bring this up because of what happened to Nick Blackwell. I am not ashamed of bringing that up. I am not any form of disgrace for bringing it up. It happened to Michael Watson."I want to talk about it, because I don't want it happening, and for it not to happen, the referees only have to do their jobs. And if there is something wrong with that, then I am the bad guy."
Blackwell entered second coma in November 2016
But what’s happened to Blackwell since that ill-fated night two years ago?
Little has been said of the 27-year-old’s condition since he emerged from a second induced coma in December 2016.
Blackwell missed boxing terribly and received a boxing trainer’s license in October 2016, against the advice of those around him.
He was then taken to hospital after falling seriously ill during a sparring session in November 2016 and an operation was carried out to reduce the swelling on his brain.
Gary Lockett, Blackwell’s former trainer, was unaware of the sparring session; however, a cruiserweight boxer and another trainer were both suspended from their roles following an investigation by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Thankfully, Blackwell regained consciousness from the coma on December 23 of the same year.
“It's just madness, absolute madness,” Eubank Jr said, per the Independent, of Blackwell’s decision to box again. “I understand how strong a love can be for the sport because I have that love inside me. But there is a difference between loving your sport and being able to spend time with your family and enjoy life.
“That is what he risked when he had that sparring session. I can't understand that. He's done it, and it's a shame but hopefully he pulls through again and everything is fine and he can learn from his mistake.”
Updates on Blackwell's condition
Blackwell spent all of 2017 recovering.
His brother, Dan, told World Boxing News in May: “Nick is doing OK. He’s talking a lot better now and he has been making progress with his walking.
“In the last six weeks, Nick has been improving by the week and right now we are just hoping he carries on with that improvement in the future.”
Asked whether doctors thought Nick would made a full recovery, Dan added: “They don't know. Nobody can tell what the final outcome is going to be for Nick.
“The brain is just too complicated to understand and we just have to take each day as it comes. We hope the improvement continues for Nick.”
Two photographs were also released around the same time…
Fortunately, it seems Blackwell has continued to make steady progress since then.
Per The Sun, it took him almost six months to get back walking properly again and he’s currently making “good progress” towards a full recovery, which is fantastic to hear.
We wish Nick all the best with the rest of his recovery.