Nick Blackwell opens up on Williams vs Eubank Jr and his recovery
EXCLUSIVE: Nick Blackwell, who survived two comas after fighting Chris Eubank Jr in 2016, opens up on his friendship with Liam Williams, explains why ‘The Machine’ will beat his former foe on Saturday and details his journey of recovery
- Nick Blackwell will watch on as Liam Williams fights Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday
- Williams was in Blackwell’s corner for his great friend’s last-ever fight in 2016
- Blackwell’s final bout was against Eubank Jr – after which he nearly lost his life
- Blackwell, now 31, insists his friend and former gym-mate will get the job done
- To keep up with Blackwell, follow him on Twitter and Instagram
On Saturday night, Nick Blackwell will be watching on as his great friend Liam Williams goes head-to-head with Chris Eubank Jr in a fierce domestic grudge match, with unwavering confidence the Welshman will emerge victorious.
It’s the same Williams who accompanied Blackwell to the ring in his last-ever outing in 2016, who was present in his corner throughout and who visited him on numerous occasions in hospital after. It’s also the same Eubank Jr who inflicted the damage on what was a devastating and nearly fatal evening.
Blackwell is now cheerful, chirpy and, in his own words, both ‘lucky’ and ‘blessed’ to be alive. But how things could have gone differently. His fight with Eubank Jr was, fortunately, waved off after 10 rounds, with the Wiltshire fighter suffering an enormous swelling above his left eye – a swelling he now thanks for saving his life.
Nick Blackwell (right) will be watching on as his friend Liam Williams (left) fights this Saturday
‘The Machine’ will go head-to-head with Chris Eubank Jr (left) in a domestic grudge match
Williams was in Blackwell’s corner for his last-ever fight, against Eubank Jr, after which he nearly lost his life, surviving two comas
The 298 punches landed by Eubank Jr, many of which were to the head, left their mark. The truly brave, warrior-like Blackwell – who was never knocked down by a punch throughout his career – collapsed in the ring minutes after the fight.
He was rushed to the hospital, needing to be resuscitated en route, and placed into an induced coma, waking up seven days later.
Blackwell’s boxing career came to an abrupt end but with quintessential humility, when speaking to Sportsmail he stressed that this is Williams’ time to shine, not wanting to spend too much time dwelling on the past.
Blackwell and Williams became great friends while training at Gary Lockett’s gym
He and Williams remain close to this day, having forged an impactful and instant connection after meeting at trainer Gary Lockett’s gym now many moons ago.
‘Liam and I have remained very close,’ Blackwell told Sportsmail. ‘We speak often. We became great friends when we were training at Gary Lockett’s gym.
‘When I first moved to Gary’s gym, Liam was already there and we clicked straight away. We had the same sense of humour.
‘We were both very focused on being professional boxers. We both would be constantly competing against each other and trying and outdo each other.
‘When I fought Eubank Jr to defend my British middleweight title, Liam was in my corner. He walked out to the ring with me alongside Tyson Fury and Billy Joe Saunders. I couldn’t have had a better team behind me.
‘Liam was also there when I won the middleweight belt against John Ryder. When I had my accident and was in hospital, Liam would often visit me with Gary Lockett and remained supportive. He’s been a loyal friend.’
Williams (back) was present when Blackwell first won his British title against John Ryder
Blackwell was moved to tears as he claimed the prestigious Lonsdale belt in some style
Now, it’s Williams’ turn to step into the spotlight, to put it all on the line, once again in a domestic grudge match against Eubank Jr. As so often is the case with Eubank Jr, there is genuine bad blood going into the bout.
Much of this bad blood has centred on a sparring session dating back circa 10 years. A sparring session Williams insists Eubank Jr couldn’t handle. A sparring session Eubank Jr insists he can’t remember. A sparring session Blackwell most certainly can.
‘This is a rival fight, a grudge match,’ Blackwell explains. ‘The bad feeling between these two has been going on for years, since they sparred back at Adam Booth’s Gym.
‘I was there the same day, sparring with Eubank and George Groves alongside Liam. Chris walked into the gym like he owns the place. No conversation, it just felt like he had a chip on his shoulder.
‘Neither man has won a world title, so this fight is a very big deal in the next step for both of them. It’s going to be a very tough fight for both fighters.’
The fight ahead, set to take place in Williams’ home city of Cardiff, is of monumental significance in the careers of both fighters.
Another loss for Williams – who fell short against the seriously tricky WBO champion Demetrius Andrade last time out, having earlier in his career lost twice to Liam Smith, would leave the Welshman down the pecking order in the middleweight division.
Eubank Jr, on the other hand, is branding himself a new and improved fighter having partnered up with the legendary Roy Jones Jr two fights ago. He’s the WBA mandatory challenger, has the backing from a thriving Sky platform and has a world title shot in his sights. A loss, the third of his career, would knock him two steps back.
For Blackwell, there’s only one winner – and the 31-year-old assures he’s not coming from a place of bias.
Blackwell insists Williams has been fighting at a higher level, having recently fallen to a points defeat against the mightily tricky Demetrius Andrade
But he does acknowledge Eubank Jr has made improvements under Roy Jones Jr (left)
‘I believe Liam will win the fight,’ he said. ‘And not just because Liam is my good friend. I’m looking at the fight from a boxer’s perspective. I feel Liam has fought better opponents lately and been up there at a higher class.
‘Liam has won his most recent fights by TKO or KO, and in the Liam Smith fight he got headbutted and had to be withdrawn from the fight. There’s no shame losing to Liam Smith or Andrade, two top-class fighters.
‘Liam’s in his hometown of Cardiff and he will have the crowd and his family behind him – not that this will faze Eubank, as he’s often booed into arenas. He thrives off it.
‘Liam is an animal, tough, a very hard hitter and I believe Eubank is underestimating him massively. From what I’ve been hearing from Liam, Eubank has put a rematch clause in the contract. If he was so confident he was going to win, why ask for a rematch? It says it all really.
Having sparred Gennady Golovkin, Blackwell insists Eubank Jr would have no chance against him
‘Liam is so big and strong for his weight and seems really focussed on the job ahead of him. This is the best I’ve seen Liam; he’s more than ready.’
Of Williams’ opponent, Blackwell thinks differently. Improved under Jones Jr? Yes. But good enough to beat his primary target Gennady Golovkin? No. In fact, Blackwell describes Eubank Jr’s recent level of opposition as a ‘joke’.
But in terms any bad feeling towards the middleweight, particularly of their fight – after which there was some anger – Blackwell insists it’s now all in the past.
‘I haven’t spoken to Chris in person since my accident,’ he said. ‘I don’t really hold any bad feeling towards the guy. At the end of the day, it’s boxing. The best man won on the night.’
With ill-feeling abandoned, Blackwell instead opts to move forward after what has been an intensely difficult, arduous journey to get where he is now.
The impacts of his injuries – which were exacerbated by a sparring session just months later, which resulted in additional swelling, meant he needed surgery once more and saw him placed into a coma again – remain prevalent to this day.
‘It’s been a very slow road to recovery after having two head injuries,’ Blackwell explains. ‘The second time did the real damage. I had to have my skull removed and put in my stomach to rest my brain. I had to learn to walk, talk and eat again.
‘I may seem the old Nick on the outside, but I’m certainly not on the inside. As they say, not all disabilities are visible.
‘I need help daily. I get that from my partner and I get support from my family. I get tired quickly and can’t do much exercise anymore.
‘I do some walking out in the fresh air and get a lot of physio, as I have a weaker left side following the damage to my brain. But I’m lucky to be here and I’m blessed.’
Blackwell, 31, still loves boxing and remains as involved in the sport as he possible can
He visited Peter Fury’s (right) gym last year alongside the likes of Savannah Marshall (centre right) and Hughie Fury (left)
By chance, he bumped into Williams at a service station on the way to the Fury gym
Despite his injuries, Blackwell’s love for the sport is very much still intact and he remains as involved as possible.
‘Boxing is one of the most dangerous sports out there but also one of the best,’ he said. ‘It gives people something to focus on, like self-discipline, and gives them somewhere to channel their anger. I believe Boxing has helped a lot of troubled kids stay off the streets and, more so, out of prison.’
Prior to the outbreak of Covid, he would regularly visit amateur gym Trowbridge ABC, where he would give the up-and-coming youngsters his advice and expertise. That has now paused to keep his clinically vulnerable stepson safe.
Blackwell also keeps in regular contact with a number of professional boxers. He recalled visiting Peter Fury’s gym alongside the likes of Savannah Marshall, Hughie Fury and Kash Ali, also attending An Evening With Carl Froch & George Groves as a VIP.
Remarkably, he even ran into a certain Liam Williams at a service station on the way to the Fury gym!
And on Saturday night, it will be boxing and Liam Williams that take centre stage once more. Blackwell’s prediction? ‘Liam Williams wins on points, but I hope it’s a KO. I wish Liam good luck, and let the best man win!’
To keep up with Blackwell, follow him on Twitter and Instagram
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