By Terence Dooley

Trowbridge’s Nick Blackwell (19-4-1, 8 KOs) has confirmed that his boxing career is over.  The 25-year-old Tweeted the news last night and he also reached out to Chris Eubank Junior, who beat him by 10th-round TKO last month in a fight that left Blackwell in an induced coma due to bleeding on the skull.

The former British middleweight titlist told his fans that he has decided to make an early, difficult decision rather than trying to get himself licenced again in the U.K. or abroad.  He said: ‘That's me done.  I can't put my friends, family and myself through that again.’

Blackwell also had a message for Eubank.  ‘Hello bro, no hard feelings, we were both doing a job and it was unfortunate,’ stated Blackwell.

The former titlist stopped John Ryder in seven to pick up the belt and made two successful defences—TKO 6 over Damon Jones and a decision over Jack Arnfield—before running into Eubank.

He absorbed a lot of shots in what was his final defence, but was still game when referee Victor Loughlin stopped the bout on the advice of the ringside physician, who had expressed concerns about a bad swelling above the champion’s left eye.

Blackwell had fought for the title twice prior to the upset win over Ryder.  The Lonsdale belt meant a lot to him; a number of fans have asked the BBBoC to offer him an honorary version of the belt for keeps given that he was only one victory away from owning it outright.

It would be a fitting tribute to a boxer who fought his way through the ranks, learned his lessons and finally got his hands on what many British fans and fighters consider to be the best belt in boxing.

Please send news and views to @Terryboxing.