FOR a brief spell, Nick Blackwell became one of the most famous men in boxing – but not for the reasons he would ever have wished.

Almost three months on from the day that he almost lost his life, the British middleweight title that one of Trowbridge’s most famous sons was relieved of in his final foray into the ring was defended by Chris Eubank Jr at the O2 Arena in London last weekend.

For the son of former world champion Chris Eubank, a dominant victory over Tom Doran allowed him, at least in boxing terms, some closure on that ill-fated night at Wembley Arena.

All that Blackwell wants is to move on too.

The 25-year-old required an adrenaline shot after his heart stopped beating as he was rushed away in an ambulance following his star-crossed showdown with Eubank Jr on March 25 and he went on to spend seven days in an induced coma.

Thankfully, Blackwell awoke in April and his recovery progressed swimmingly, but it didn’t take long for a war of words to brew, with Eubank Jr and his father criticised by the Wiltshire ace for holding a press conference against his family’s wishes whilst he lay in hospital.

In May, an explosive interview with The Sun, during which Blackwell was quoted as branding the Eubanks ‘inhuman’, and an appearance on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, conveyed his first thoughts since making a welcome return to the waking world.

But the Trowbridge fighter, who has retired since his defeat to Eubank Jr, insists his true feelings were lost in translation along the way.

“Everything got all twisted up and it made me look like someone I’m not,” said Blackwell, who turned down the opportunity to commentate on Eubank Jr’s triumph over Doran last weekend to avoid going over old ground.

“I was getting all sorts of abuse and things like that on social media.

“People tell you what things can be like with the media but you don’t understand it until you’re involved in it.

“With the newspaper interview, they might as well not have bothered coming to my house and written what they wanted.

“Then with Good Morning Britain; I got told what I could and couldn’t say five minutes before I was due to go on TV and they just wanted to try and defend Eubank Sr – it wasn’t what I wanted it to be.

“People are always asking me about the Eubanks, so it looks like all I do is talk about them but that’s not what I want to do at all. It’s boring now.”

Many a sportsman would struggle to come to terms with their career coming to an abrupt end, not least a former British champion who was no stranger to performing in front of the TV cameras at packed-out arenas both on these shores and abroad.

But Blackwell, whose first breakthrough moment arrived when he became the youngest-ever English champion in 2010, is brimming with positivity and steadfastly looking to the future.

His post-boxing plans appear bountiful and ‘Bang Bang’ can now even allow himself a holiday or two.

Blackwell said: “I can drive again, which is nice, and I’ve been training over at the gym in Cardiff and going over to get a bit of food. I still want to keep fit and I’m feeling back to normal now, so it’s all good.

“I did say that I’d like to open up in gym in Cornwall but after looking into it a bit, I don’t think that would have been the right move, so I’m going to look to do it here instead.

“I’ve had a few chats about it and looked into a few places.

“I want to open up a boxing gym but I want it to be a normal gym and a healthy eating café too. I think that we could do with something like that in Trowbridge; something to get the naughty kids off the street.

“I had a chat to Mark Kent (Contender Gym owner and former trainer) a few weeks ago too because he’d heard about what I was thinking of doing and I didn’t want to step on his toes but he was fine with it.

“I’m getting my second’s licence so that I can be in the corner for the boys from the gym – Liam Williams has a big fight coming up (defending his British super-welterweight title against Gary Corcoran on July 16) and he’s been in my corner, so I should do the same for him.

“And I’m going to go for my trainer’s licence too – you need to go to a meeting with the (British) Boxing Board of Control to get that and because of the experience I’ve got, it should be easy to get that.

“I’ve also now got the chance to go on holiday. I’ve not been on holiday for 10 years.

“Dubai, Cornwall for a bit of surfing, and also Costa Rica for a bit of surfing as well; I’ve got them all planned and I can’t wait.

“I’m also supposed to be going away with (former promoter) Mick Hennessy’s family, so I’ve got a lot to look forward to.”

Blackwell was also due to carry one of Tyson Fury’s belts to the ring for his show-stopping re-match with Wladimir Klitschko in July – the British heavyweight world champion held aloft the British middleweight strap before ‘Bang Bang’s’ clash with Eubank Jr – but that fight has since been postponed.

Fury’s gesture is just one example of the support that has been offered to Blackwell from all corners during what has been an indescribable ordeal.

From world-renowned warriors to local teenagers from Trowbridge, every person that extended their aid to helping Blackwell’s recovery played their part in allowing him to broach his next step with such optimism.

“All of the support that I had whilst everything was going on was amazing and I can’t thank all of those people enough,” he said.

“There were ones that came in to my room in the hospital and I can’t properly remember them being there but it doesn’t mean that I’m not thankful for them visiting me and I want to say thanks to everybody else that was there for me too.

“David Haye’s been an absolute gem too. People can say what they want about him but he supported me even more than he said he was going to and his advice has been amazing.

“The most important thing is that I’m back to 100 per cent – that’s what’s important.

“You have to stay positive. It’s so important to do that and there are so many things around the corner for me, so I’m excited.

“And at least I don’t have to make a living getting punched in the face any more.”