Eduard Gutknecht has surgery after George Groves defeat
Saturday 19 November 2016 12:53, UK
Eduard Gutknecht has undergone surgery after he was taken ill following his defeat to George Groves at Wembley Arena on Friday night.
The German collapsed in his dressing room following the 12-round WBA International super-middleweight battle and was carried to an ambulance by a stretcher.
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Gutknecht reportedly required resuscitating after he briefly stopped breathing before arriving at the neurological unit at St Mary's Hospital in west London.
The British Boxing Board of Control said on Saturday lunchtime that Gutknecht is being kept sedated following surgery and his condition will continue to be monitored in the coming days.
Groves, who retained his title with a WBA international title with a 119-109 (twice) and 119-110 verdict, took to social media on Saturday morning to send his best wishes to Gutknecht.
"Out of respect to Eduard Gutknecht and his family's privacy I don't want to say too much but we were all deeply concerned to hear that he was taken to hospital after the fight last night," Groves tweeted.
"I sincerely hope it is nothing too serious and I would like to send out all of my support and best wishes to him and his family at this difficult time."
Groves' trainer Shane McGuigan had also expressed concern for the Kazakhstan-born boxer on Twitter.
"Thoughts are with Eduard Gutknecht after tonight's fight," tweeted McGuigan.
At the same venue in March, English middleweight Nick Blackwell collapsed at the end of his stoppage defeat by Chris Eubank Jnr.
The 26-year-old suffered bleeding on his skull and was treated at St Mary's hospital in Paddington where he eventually recovered, despite having to retire.
More recently in September, Scottish welterweight Mike Towell died just 25 hours after losing to Dale Evans in Glasgow. He had suffered severe bleeding and swelling to his brain.
