By Elliot Foster

Nick Blackwell was taken to hospital this week after suffering an injury during sparring.

The former British middleweight champion suffered a bleed on the brain in March, in a loss to Chris Eubank Jr. at the SSE Arena in Wembley, London, and was forced to retire from the game.

Blackwell, who left the ring with a record of 19-4-1 (8 KOs), spent a week in a medically-induced coma after the defeat to the second generation Eubank.

But it was revealed on Saturday night that the Trowbridge man, 26, put his life on the once more by stepping back into the ring.

He participated in a sparring session, it is understood, when he fell ill and was taken to hospital.

British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith described Blackwell as “very silly”, to the Daily Telegraph’s Gareth A Davies, and said that “for somebody to go and do what he's done, for what I thought was a very sensible young man, is just beyond belief.”

Blackwell underwent a procedure after being taken to hospital and is now said to be in a ‘stable’ condition.

Robert Smith continued to say that the British Boxing Board of Control –– which issued Blackwell with his trainer’s licence last month –– “have spoken to a number of people about this and we will be putting the full facts together.”

Further details will be revealed in due course.

In other news, Frankie Gavin is in hot water after a Twitter post.

The former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion, who lost his last fight at the hands of Midlands rival Sam Eggington in October and is also a former world title challenger, sent a homophobic tweet as Orlando Cruz was bidding to become the first openly-gay world champion.

Gavin, 31, wrote: "I have nothing against gay people, have gay friends. But if I lost to a gay lad I would get bantered for life by pals so Flanagan has to win."

Cruz was challenging Manchester’s Terry Flanagan for the WBO lightweight crown but eventually lost by stoppage in round eight.

Gavin later deleted the message which poured water over Cruz’ pre-fight sentiments that “it's very important, wonderful, that other people are interested in me as a role model.”