Boxer in hospital after title fight

BOXER Spencer Oliver was rushed to hospital last night after losing his defence of his European super-bantamweight title to Ukrainian Sergei Devakov at the Royal Albert Hall, London, writes Mark Cotton.

The 22-year-old boxer was stopped in the 10th round after being knocked down for the second time in the fight.

Oliver was treated in the ring by Dr Alistair Skelly, a consultant anaesthetist, and Stephen Shapiro, chief medical officer of the British Boxing Board of Control Southern Area Council. Dr Shapiro said procedures as laid down in BBBC regulations, which have been improved since the ill-fated Nigel Benn-Gerald McClellan fight, had been followed.

Oliver was given oxygen and an injection to stabilise him before he slipped into unconsciousness. He was taken to Charing Cross Hospital.

Sport, Section 2, p24