Trainer relives Ingle's tragic night

Pollard: 'Everything was done to prevent the tragedy'

Paul Ingle's trainer, Steve Pollard, tells BBC Sport Online of the tragic night in Sheffield and his anger at the reaction that has followed.

The tragic consequences which resulted from Paul Ingle's IBF featherweight fight against South African Mbulelo Botile overshadowed what should have been a great night of boxing.

The aftermath predictably revived the debate of whether boxing should be banned and what could be done to prevent further tragedies.

What was more tragic about Ingle's fight is that his corner, his manager and the referee had no idea of the Scarborough man's worsening condition.

Ingle's trainer Steve Pollard was ringside. He told BBC Sport Online that he was adamant his fighter was feeling no ill-effects.

'Dangerous sport'

"I could have stopped the fight at any point, but Paul seemed fine to me in the final rounds," said Pollard.

All the medics were there and they did a brilliant job because without them he probably would have died

  Paul Ingle's trainer
Steve Pollard

"I asked him where he was and he replied 'I'm in Sheffield' - and then he started swearing, so I knew then that he was okay."

Pollard, who has been at Ingle's bedside ever since the boxer went into a coma, has trained the featherweight for a number of years and knew that Ingle had the resilience to continue fighting after his knockdown in the 11th.

"In two out of three of his world title fights he has risen from the canvas to go on and win the contest," he added.

"When he got knocked down on Saturday I told him to stay down and get up on my command, I spoke to him and he replied as normal."

The calls of boxing to be regulated and even banned have come to the fore again, but Pollard admitted that the outcry would be vain.

"It's a dangerous spectator sport which is professionally run. People choose to box, they are not forced to.

Proud man

"More people suffer in other sports. When a racing car driver dies you don't go and reduce the speed limits do you?"

"His manager Frank Maloney, myself and the referee had the full power to stop the fight - neither one of us felt it necessary to do so.

"If we knew he was in trouble we would have prevented him from carrying on because we care about health and safety.

"All the medics were there and they did a brilliant job because without them he probably would have died."

"I don't know what Paul was thinking at the time, but I know he is a proud man and maybe even though he knew he was defeated, heart ruled head - I just hope he recovers."