Zak Miller home after horrific head haematoma vs Gully Powar; Warren: 'Never seen anything like that'

Former British featherweight champion Zak Miller is home and recovering after a grotesque head haematoma brought a premature end to his vacant British featherweight title fight with Gully Powar at Manchester's AO Arena on Saturday, November 7. Promoter Frank Warren and DAZN commentator Carl Frampton both said it was the worst injury of its kind they had ever seen.

Miller vs Powar was on the undercard of Willy Hutchinson's win over Joshua Buatsi for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title. Images of Miller's swollen head spread far beyond boxing in the days after the fight, and the reaction has kept growing this week.

How the injury happened

According to The Ring, the swelling started on the left side of Miller's forehead after an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round. Some other reports place the clash in the seventh. Miller, 29, from Ashton-under-Lyne, kept fighting in a close back-and-forth contest. Powar, 24, rocked him with a left hook late in the fifth and kept the pressure on through the middle rounds.

A ringside doctor checked the injury in the ninth round and let Miller continue. By the 10th, the swelling had spread across his forehead and a second large lump had formed on the right side of his head. The doctor then stopped the fight.

Because the injury came from an accidental foul, the bout went to the scorecards. Powar won a unanimous technical decision with scores of 96-94, 97-95 and 96-95, according to the Express & Star, and took the Lonsdale belt. Powar is now 14-1-1 and Miller is 17-2.

'I've never seen anything like that'

Warren, whose Queensberry Promotions works with both fighters, told reporters the injury was "horrific."

"It started on one side of his head and then it moved to the other side. It was awful for him, and to watch, and very worrying," Warren said, as quoted by Nine. "The referee and the doctor were right in stopping the fight. He went to hospital for observation, he's home now."

"I've seen horrible cuts, eye injuries, and so forth, but I've never seen anything like that," Warren added. "He's in a good place now and he can fight another day. He's with us, Queensberry, and we will make sure he gets whatever he needs in the future."

Frampton reacted on the broadcast with: "That is the worst I've ever seen."

Manager's update

Miller's manager, Kevin Maree, said on social media that Miller was "thoroughly assessed by the medical team at the venue before being taken straight to hospital for further checks," where he was kept for observation and given a full assessment.

"Thankfully, the medical team are happy with how he is doing, and we expect him to be back to his handsome self very soon," Maree wrote. "Last night was a stark reminder of just how tough and unforgiving this sport can be."

Questions over the stoppage timing

Some critics have asked why the fight went on for several more rounds after the clash of heads, especially since the doctor let Miller continue after looking at him in the ninth. Warren backed the officials' final call. Nobody involved has said when Miller might box again.

For Powar, the win made him the first British champion trained by Richie Carter at Wolverhampton Boxing Club. It came after his April draw with Rhys Edwards for the same title.