NICK Blackwell earned plenty of plaudits after dispatching Damon Jones to defend his British middleweight title but perhaps most importantly, he has earned some much-needed respite.

‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell’s victory over Jones in Derby last weekend was his fourth outing in nine months and his second major title contest in eight weeks.

The 24-year-old has been training and living in Cardiff in the build-up to his British title win over John Ryder in May and his subsequent defence last weekend and trainer Gary Lockett has now ordered his charge to put his feet up.

“I don’t think he’s had a break from boxing now for five or six months, so I’ve told him now to have a good two weeks off and enjoy himself,” said Lockett.

“Knowing Nick, he probably won’t have a day off. He’s always in the gym doing something but I want him to rest mentally. I don’t want him to have the pressure of boxing.

“In two weeks, we’ll get back in the gym and start working on other things moving forward.”

Blackwell added: “I’ve never felt this tired and maybe I have over-trained. My body needs a rest and maybe it’s time to do that.

“I’ve been training for a whole year solid without a break, so I think I deserve a week or two off training. I’ll still go in every now and again but I won’t be smashing the pads every day.”

Meanwhile, trainer Lockett thought that Blackwell looked nervous as he toiled in the early rounds against Yorkshireman Jones last weekend but was thrilled by the way the bout was brought to an eye-catching end in the sixth round.

“You’ve got to realise that Nick’s always been used to being the opponent and sometimes, when a fighter is on the left-hand side of the bill or in the home corner, perhaps he thinks a little bit different,” he said.

“Perhaps he was a little more nervous because he’s got something to lose now, rather than being the challenger – who knows?

“I thought he was a bit nervous but he got himself out of trouble – well, not necessarily trouble because he was always going to break the guy down anyway – but I thought it was a cracking shot to finish it.”