IN this column I've frequently dubbed boxing the ‘fight game’.

This will be the last time as an ill-fated bout on Saturday proved this sport, the hardest of all, is anything but a game.

At the time of writing, Nick Blackwell is currently lying in a coma after suffering a bleed on his brain caused by the punishment he sustained in his fight with Chris Eubank Jr at Wembley Arena.

It was a gruelling battle in which Eubank Jr ripped the British middleweight title from the waist of the 25-year-old after Blackwell was stopped on his feet by referee Victor Loughlin in the tenth.

Blackwell traded bravely with the ferocious Eubank but was bloodied and beaten by the end. Nasty swelling sprung up above his left eye leaving the referee with no choice but to stop it.

There were no complaints, Blackwell congratulated his opponent, posed for pictures but suddenly collapsed and was rushed to hospital.

He is in a serious condition but he has not deteriorated – Blackwell will certainly never box again.

Questions have now naturally been raised about a supposed delay in stopping the fight sooner from both the referee and Blackwell’s trainer Gary Lockett.

Comments from Chris Eubank Snr in the corner when addressing his son have received almost equal attention as Blackwell’s perilous state.

The British boxing legend told Eubank Jr to target the body rather than the head, voicing his bemusement as to why the fight was still going. 

Experts, casual fans and critics alike have all jumped to their own theories. 

Was Eubank Snr showing genuine compassion or was it a purely tactical pep talk?

He is still haunted by the injuries suffered by Michael Watson – who spent 40 days in a coma – after their 1991 fight.

My firm belief in the aftermath of Blackwell’s stoppage was that the referee called it right.

Blackwell took a beating in large parts of the fight but continued to throw (and land) back, albeit to a lesser degree.

He was the defending champion, he deserved every opportunity to keep himself in the fight. 

The swelling only started to blow up in the tenth round but I do not reject those who believe it should have been stopped sooner.

Boxing’s dangers can never be underestimated, the consequences are potentially fatal.

Nick Blackwell would have fought on until the final bell, he would have never pulled himself out.

It's extremely difficult to pin the blame on the corner and the ref however, they have to make a split decision and in the end, Loughlin made the right call but perhaps slightly later.

My thoughts and prayers, like the rest of the world boxing family, are with Blackwell and his family.

An unfortunate handful know exactly what Blackwell is going through, he could make a startling recovery.

The debates about what could have, should have been done and where boxing goes from here should be parked for now.

Let's hope Blackwell comes through his toughest fight yet.