By Terence Dooley

BoxingScene.com readers will be pleased to hear that Jason Rushton is out of his drug-induced coma and responding well after undergoing a minor operation in the wake of his final-round TKO loss to Brian Rose for the Central Area light-middleweight title at the Bolton Arena on Friday night.

Friday night’s co-promoter, VIP boss Steve Woods, posted the good news on the Boxrec forum earlier today.  ‘Jason has been removed from the Intensive Care Unit and was yesterday sat up talking and eating in small spells,’ wrote Woods.  ‘His body still needs rest and he does drift back to sleep. 

‘On Friday evening he collapsed on the walk back to the dressing room and a hospital scan showed swelling of the brain and minor bleeds.  There was no blood clot and there was a minor operation so the pressure could be monitored – it was not a brain operation.  He was taken out of the induced coma within 24 hours and his amazing recovery was down to his fighting spirit, his low heart rate and general fitness condition.

‘His girlfriend Nadia, father John and all his family would like to thank everybody for the fantastic support he has been given from all within and outside the boxing community. Extra special thanks go to the officials on the evening, Red Cross paramedics, doctors and staff at Hope Hospital where he is being given the best treatment possible and the Boxing Board of Control who have been in constant touch.’

The Doncaster native won the British Masters and Central Area title during his 28-fight career - grabbing both those belts via a seventh-round KO of Davey Jones in 2007.  Indeed, Jason won his first 13 contests before dropping a devastating points reverse to Lee Murtagh in a 2005 Central Area title fight.  Jason has been heading down the journeyman road in recent times but he rallied hard when hurt in Friday’s fight and pushed Rose, who is now 14-0-1 (4 early), right down to the wire.

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