Blackwell Awakes from Induced Coma

Chris Eubank Jr v Nick Blackwell

Nick Blackwell has woken from his induced coma, following his fight with Chris Eubank Jr last week.

The 25-year-old was taken to hospital after the British middleweight title contest was stopped in round 10.

Blackwell woke from the induced coma on Saturday, and by Sunday was talking to family and friends at his bedside, said promoter Hennessey Sports.

Blackwell had suffered a bleed on the skull and not the brain as initially reported, the statement added.

Hennessey Sports said the boxer had won his "toughest fight yet".

It added: "Nick Blackwell won the hearts of over three million television viewers on 26 March with an astonishing display of all-action bravery and determination.

"In the past week, however, he has humbled millions more. He's a fighter. He's a warrior. He's a true champion and gentleman.

"On behalf of Nick, his family, and very close friends, we'd like to thank everyone for their continued support and well-wishes. It has been overwhelming at times and has certainly not gone unnoticed."

Referee Victor Loughlin stopped the fight in round 10 on the advice of the ringside doctor, who said Blackwell was unable to continue because of swelling over his left eye.

It meant Eubank Jr, 26, took the British middleweight title.

After the fight, Blackwell received medical attention in the ring before being taken away while receiving oxygen.

The British Boxing Board of Control said it was satisfied with the way the fight was handled, and respected trainer Adam Booth told BBC Radio 5 live Loughlin had "acted immaculately".

Former world champion Barry McGuigan, now a promoter, said it was an "isolated incident" and "nobody was to blame".

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Angelo Dundee 1921 - 2012

Legendary American boxing trainer Angelo Dundee has died at the age of 90, according to reports.

Dundee, who guided the career of Muhammad Ali, is said to have died of a heart attack on Wednesday evening after suffering from a blood clot in recent weeks which saw him hospitalised in Florida before being moved to a healthcare centre.

Dundee will be largely remembered as Ali's trainer, guiding the heavyweight from his early days as a professional right through a career which saw the boxer become 'The Greatest' by winning the world heavyweight three three times and engaging in numerous epic fights.

His son Jim told the Miami Herald: "He was recuperating and coming along quite well. He was already making plans to (go) to Las Vegas for another event in two weeks. Thankfully, the whole family was with him. We have lost a great man.

"My dad led a wonderful life. Sadly, many of the great people from that generation are gone. This is the end of an era."

Dundee will be remembered in England for his role in Ali's defeat of British icon Henry Cooper at Wembley in 1963.

Cooper floored Ali - then still using his birth name of Cassius Clay - at the end of the fourth round in London with a trademark left hook which scrambled the American's senses. Ali was saved first by the bell, however, and then by Dundee, who breached the rules by helping him to the corner.

Dundee then illegally used smelling salts to help his fighter regain his senses and made a small tear in one of Ali's gloves, forcing a welcome delay while a new pair were sought. Ali then went out and beat Cooper on a cuts stoppage in the very next round.

Philadelphia-born Dundee's achievements were not limited to Ali's glory, though. He played a significant role in the successes of the likes of Willie Pastrano, Jose Napoles, Jimmy Ellis, George Foreman and, famously, 'Sugar' Ray Leonard.

Dundee, whose wife died in 2010, is survived by a son and daughter, six grandchildren and a great grandchild.

Rest in Peace

Mayweather Wins Controversial Bout

Floyd Mayweather claimed the WBC welterweight title with a controversial victory over Victor Ortiz in Las Vegas.

Mayweather knocked out Ortiz at the end of the fourth round to extend his unbeaten record to 42 fights.

But the 34-year-old looked to land the knockout blows while Ortiz was apologising after delivering a headbutt seconds earlier.

"I got hit by a dirty shot. The rule is protect yourself at all time," Mayweather insisted afterwards.

"We are not here to cry and complain about what he did or I did dirty."

After a quiet opening in Sunday's fight, it burst into life in the fourth round with Ortiz getting Mayweather on the ropes without quite being able to find a decisive blow.

Just before the bell Ortiz had Mayweather on the ropes for a third time, only to be penalised for a headbutt.

The 24-year-old then seemed to be apologising and was not protecting himself as Mayweather landed two punches - the second a big right hand - to end the fight.

Ortiz claimed he was hit by a punch before the referee had asked the fighters to continue.

"I took the break by the referee and I obeyed exactly as I was told," Ortiz said. "And then, boom, he blindsided me.

"There's two ways to look at it but as far as I was concerned I came here to entertain the fans and they were entertained.

"There was a miscommunication with the referee but nobody is perfect and this was a learning experience."

Mayweather had returned to the ring for the first time in 16 months.

Some critics had suggested the bout will be a 'tune-up' for Mayweather before an agreement is finally reached for a Manny Pacquiao fight next year.

Moylette and Ward Reach Finals

Irish World Youth champions Joe Ward and Ray Moylette are through to the finals at the European Senior Championships following semi-final wins over Hungarian and Azerbaijani opponents in Ankara, Turkey, yesterday.

Moylette, the 2008 AIBA World Youth champ, beat Hajiliyev Heybatulla in the light-welterweight class to set up today’s final with Thomas Stalker of England.

And 17-year-old Ward, the 2010 AIBA World Youth champion, followed that up with a comprehensive 18-8 win over Hungarian puncher Imre Szello, who is 11 years the Irish teenager’s senior.

Ward, who boxes out of the Moate BC in Westmeath, will now meet Russian Nikita Ivanov in today’s 81kg final. Ivanov, a two-time Bosckai Memorial Cup gold medal winner, beat Croatia’s Hrvoje Sep in the corresponding 81kg semi-final.

Ivanov replaced World champion Yegor Mekhonstev on the Russia team for Turkey as head coach Nikolay Khromov continues to keep his cards close to his chest ahead of the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan, next September/October.

Ward and Ivanov sparred at Ireland’s training camp in Russia this year and Irish team manager Des Donnelly reports that Ward, one of the youngest finalists in the 87-year history of the European Championships, was well able for the Russian.

Ward was 11-4 up going into the third round of yesterday’s semi-final and even found time to beckon Szello forward, a cheeky gesture that earned the 2009 AIBA World Junior champion a ticking off from the referee.

“Joe was in against a vastly experienced opponent and he made him look ordinary, said Irish head coach Billy Walsh. “It was a fantastic performance from someone of such tender years. Joe has a another big day ahead of him tomorrow but his confidence will be very high after this win.”

Meanwhile, Moylette had a deserved victory over Heybatulla, the St Anne’s BC, Westport, light-welterweight, a gold medal winner at the 2008 AIBA World Youth Championships in Mexico, winning 18-16.

A close duel saw both boxers share the first round 4-4 and the second 9-9, before Moylette, who was landing most of the cleaner shots throughout, claimed the final round and victory.

He’ll now meet England’s Thomas Stalker in today’s 64kg final.

Liverpool native Stalker. a silver medal winner at the 2010 European Championships and the current Commonwealth champion, received a walkover over Italy’s Vincenzo Mangiacapre in the other semi-final.

It is understood that Mangiacarpe was injured.

Walsh added: “The final score didn’t reflect Ray’s performance. It was a fantastic display, particularly in the third round when he pulled out all the stops to a very well deserved win.

“Thomas Stalker is a good lad. He’s a good boxer and he’s won a lot on his day. Ray and Thomas Stalker deserve to be in the final – both of them are there on merit.”

Moylette, who broke his left hand after falling on ice last Christmas, sparred with Stalker in a training camp in Sheffield earlier this month and vowed there’ll be no slips up this time.

“We sparred in two session at the training camp in Sheffield recently and he won some and I won some. I learned a lot from those sessions to tell you the truth,” he said.

“We were even going into the third in the semi-final and I didn’t know what the score was when the final bell wen,t but I was smiling because I was happy with my performance, happy with the fact that I gave it everything.

“I landed the cleaner shots against the Azerbaijani lad. It was a really tough fight and I had to keep my concentration.

“Both of us have similar styles in that we were waiting for the other to come forward and then countering.

“The way I looked at the semi-final was that I already had a medal in the bag and the pressure was off and I went in there to enjoy myself. I had nothing to lose.

“I’ll be going in to enjoy myself again in the final and I’ll be giving it everything. Thomas Stalker is a good boxer, make no mistake about that. It will be a tough, tough one but I’m confident.

“I’m delighted with this win and to be taking home a medal. I’m into a European final now and it proves that my world title win in Mexico in 2008 was not a flash in the pan.”