Friday 23 December 2016 13:52, UK
Nick Blackwell has woken from a coma as he continues to recover from the serious head injuries he suffered in a sparring session last month.
The former British middleweight champion returned to the ring in recent weeks, despite being put in a coma following a defeat to Chris Eubank Jr in March, which prompted him to announce his retirement.
Blackwell was rushed back to hospital and surgeons removed part of his skull to relieve bleeding on his brain, but the 26-year-old has regained consciousness this week and no longer requires a breathing ventilator.
His father John Blackwell told The Wiltshire Times: "We're all absolutely delighted. We've been hoping he would get to this stage, but didn't think it would be for another few months yet.
"He's out of intensive care and has been put in a new ward in his own room. Even nurses are surprised at how he's recovered over the past week.
"There's still a long road ahead though, and he'll need another operation sometime next year to replace the part of his skull which is missing, but we're just so happy to see him smiling again."
The British Boxing Board of Control have suspended trainer Liam Wilkins and light-heavyweight Hasan Karkardi after Blackwell took part in the ill-advised sparring session.
"The last four weeks have been utter hell," said John Blackwell.
"The first week in particular was awful. We had everything going through our heads and experts were telling us that it was 50/50 whether or not he would make it.
"We would have given up everything we had just to see him recover - nothing else has mattered to us other than making sure he makes it.
"We're all going to visit him in hospital on Christmas Day. It would be amazing if he's able to pull crackers and share jokes with us."
