British featherweight Zak Miller was rushed to hospital for urgent medical assessment following his title fight against Gully Powar in Manchester on Saturday night, which was stopped in the 10th round due to severe, disfiguring facial hematomas.
The bout, which saw Powar claim the vacant British featherweight title via a unanimous technical decision, was halted after an accidental clash of heads in the seventh round caused injuries to Miller that worsened as the contest continued.
A ringside doctor examined Miller during the ninth round before the fight was waved off by referee Mark Lyson in the 10th. Miller, 29, sustained swelling above his left eye, on his forehead, and below his right eye. Following the stoppage, he was assessed by medical staff at the venue before being transported to a hospital for observation.
Promoter Frank Warren told The Sun that he was “horrified” by the injury. He added: “I’ve seen horrible cuts, eye injuries and so forth, but I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Former world champion Carl Frampton, who was presenting on DAZN, described the injury as “the worst I’ve ever seen”.
Miller’s manager, Kevin Maree, provided an update on the boxer’s condition following his hospital stay. “He was kept in hospital for observation and underwent a full assessment,” Maree said. “Thankfully, the medical team are happy with how he is doing, and we expect him to be back to his handsome self very soon.”
Maree described Miller as a “special person”, noting the volume of concern directed toward the fighter. “The sheer number of people asking about him and checking on his wellbeing last night shows just how much he means to so many,” he said. “It’s a real testament to the person he is, both inside and outside the ring.”
Reflecting on the nature of the sport, the manager added: “Every single fighter who steps through those ropes puts themselves on the line and deserves the utmost respect.” He referred to the bout as a “stark reminder” of the dangers inherent in professional boxing.
The fight, which took place on the undercard of Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson, concluded with judges scoring the bout 96-95, 97-94, and 96-94 in favor of 24-year-old Powar.
While Miller remains under medical supervision, it is not yet known when he will be discharged or if there will be a formal review into why the fight was allowed to continue after the ringside doctor’s initial examination in the ninth round.
