Nick Blackwell Slams Chris Eubank and Son for 'Milking Publicity' After Fight

Former boxer Nick Blackwell has said if he "could have one more knockout shot" he would like to punch Chris Eubank Sr. "on the jaw." The 25-year-old believes the Eubanks "milked publicity" after his loss to Chris Eubank Jr. saw him placed in a medically induced coma.

Blackwell made the comments in an exclusive interview with the Sun's Dan Sales, though he has since denied making the statements. The now-retired boxer was hospitalised after his knockout defeat to Eubank Jr. on March 26.

Three days after the bout, the Eubanks addressed the media in a press conference. Eubank Sr. dismissed the idea he may have helped save Blackwell's life by instructing his son to ease up on him in the later rounds, and he vowed there would be no celebrations of the victory until the 25-year-old had fully recovered, per Daily Mirror's Liam Prenderville.

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Per Sales, it's clear the press conference has angered Blackwell:

"

I haven’t any hard feelings about the fight because you’re in there to win and try and hurt someone—it’s just the stuff he has done after. It’s inhuman, it’s disgusting.

They were trying to make themselves look like the good guys when they are the opposite.

My family and friends were begging them not to talk, but they ignored it. I’ve only just been shown the press conference and I know exactly what happened. It isn’t human what they’ve done.

They were grabbing as much attention as they could. 

I was still in a coma but they went ahead and did it. 

That’s the Eubanks, isn’t it? They just want attention, no matter if it’s a bad or a good thing.

If Chris Jr. was in a coma and I wanted to do a press conference on the Tuesday and their family was begging me not to do it, I would not do it.

My promoter was begging Chris Sr. The Boxing Board of Control rang him and begged him not to do it.

"

However, the former British middleweight champion says he has no recollection of saying he wants to punch Eubank Sr., telling Good Morning Britain (h/t the Mirror's Carl Greenwood): "I can't actually remember saying that."

Here is the video, in which Blackwell spoke to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid:

Sports journalist Toby Bilton was in agreement with Blackwell regarding the Eubanks, while CNN International's Alex Thomas disagreed:

According to Sales, Eubank Jr. defended their decision to hold the press conference:

"

If Nick is part of the small percentage that took offence, that’s unfortunate. It’s sad for me to hear something like that. 

All I have ever wanted for Nick has been the best.

The fight was all the publicity that was needed. It was a great British tussle and such a shame it ended like that. Anything that happened after that was not for our gain.

People deserve our side of the story and our perspective on things—that’s all it was.

"

Though Blackwell told Sales he will make a complete recovery from his injuries, he has been forced to call time on his career in the ring because of them due to the potentially fatal risk of a recurrence were he to fight again.

As for Eubank Jr., he will defend the belt he won off Blackwell against Tom Doran on June 25.