NICK BLACKWELL collected his British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) trainer’s licence this weekend and is now looking for a site to open his own gym.
Blackwell’s boxing career ended in March after he was placed in an induced coma following his 10th-round stoppage loss to Chris Eubank Jnr.
Having fully recovered from his injuries, the 25-year-old wants to stay involved in the sport as much as possible, namely through training fighters.
“Things are going really well,” he told Boxing News.
“I collected my trainer’s licence at the weekend, which I’m really happy about. Now I can start cornering for the lads and do more training.”
The former British champion admits he misses fighting though knows he can never do it competitively again. His brother Dan, a long-serving journeyman, retired from boxing when Nick was forced to do the same, only to be persuaded to return by Nick himself.
“I so badly wish I could get back in there and fight, but this is the next best thing,” Blackwell continued.
“I corner for my brother and some of the lads in Cardiff [at Gary Lockett’s gym, where Blackwell used to train]. So I’m still very much a part of the sport and involved in it.”
One of Blackwell’s main ambitions is to open his own gym in Trowbridge, where he lives, to begin his own stable of professional and amateur fighters.
“I’m actually looking at a few sites at the moment, it’s exciting. Hopefully it comes off and I can open the gym, and the amateur gym will be a part of it.”
The boxing fraternity rallied around Blackwell after his tragic meeting with Eubank Jnr. Various fundraisers generated thousands of pounds for him while David Haye donated a portion of his ticket sales to Nick.
