TRAINER Liam Wilkins has had his licence withdrawn by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and light-heavyweight Hasa Karkardi has been suspended for six months due to their involvement in the illicit sparring session with Nick Blackwell last year.
Blackwell was hospitalised after engaging in a four-round spar with Karkardi in December, while Wilkins watched on.
The BBBofC held a hearing on Wednesday and today confirmed the punishments handed down to Wilkins and Karkadi, concluding that their conduct was “detrimental to the interests of boxing.”
Both were immediately suspended after the incident pending this week’s hearing. The Board were hoping Blackwell would also be able to attend, but his condition has not improved enough.
It recently emerged that he is still unable to walk and that his road to recovery will be a long one. He required surgery, during which a part of his skull was removed.
In March of last year Blackwell’s boxing career was ended when he was placed into an induced coma following his stoppage loss to Chris Eubank Jnr. He had made a full recovery and was embarking on a career as a trainer when the fateful sparring incident took place.
Wilkins, 21, was only granted his trainers licence by the BBBofC last February.
