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Home » Nick Blackwell sparring partner named, handed BBBofC suspension

Nick Blackwell sparring partner named, handed BBBofC suspension

Blackwell was taken to hospital last month and operated on to relieve swelling on his brain just six months after being put in a coma by Chris Eubank Jr.

Karkardi (pictured above on the left at the club in question) was due to fight Chris Hobbs for the vacant Southern Area belt this weekend but has now had his boxing licence suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control.

Trainer Liam Wilkins, who is just 21, was present at the sparring session which took place at Devizes Amateur Boxing Club, and has also been suspended.

Both have been called to appear at a scheduled BBBofC meeting in January to discuss the matter further.

At the time of the incident, BBBofC General Secretary Robert Smith said: “What we understand is that Nick Blackwell sparred last week, he was taken ill and taken to hospital where he is in a stable condition.

“He no longer has a boxer’s licence, but he does have a trainer’s licence, which is a completely different thing. He should not have been boxing.

“I’m sickened by it. It’s a very tough sport and the doctors here did a wonderful job to save his life. The doctors at hospital saved his life and kept him going.

“He made a remarkable recovery and for somebody to go and do what he’s done, for what I thought was a very sensible young man, is just beyond belief.”

Wilkins and Karkardi could face further punishment in what luckily didn’t end up being a fatality as Blackwell was warned by medical staff never to take another blow to the head.