Zak Miller, the boxer whose head blew up: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’

Gully Poirier won the vacant British featherweight title after referee Mark Raison stopped the fight following the injury to his opponent, Zak Miller, whose face swelled badly after their heads collided in the seventh round. The judges awarded Poirier a unanimous decision on the scorecards, 96-95, 97-94 and 96-94.

Miller, 29, suffered a severe hematoma, with blood pooling under the skin, after an accidental head collision during an exchange of heavy blows. A large lump formed above his left eye, and blood-filled hematomas appeared on his forehead and below his right eye, distorting his face. The fight was an undercard bout at the Joshua Buatsi and Will Hutchison event in Manchester, UK. Poirier was 24.

The Ring reported that Miller left the hospital following the injury. The delay in stopping the bout drew criticism. According to 스타뉴스, which cited the Daily Mail, fans questioned why the fight was not stopped earlier. The ring doctor examined Miller in the ninth round and allowed the contest to continue, and the referee stopped it only after the 10th round ended.

Former world champion Carl Frampton, speaking on DAZN commentary, called it "the worst injury I have witnessed in my lifetime." The New York Times headline quotes Miller as saying, "I've never seen anything like it." News.com.au described the boxing world as rocked by the injury, while the NZ Herald carried Frampton's reaction under the headline "Worst I've ever seen."

The reporting differs on how the injury is described. The New York Times headline refers to a boxer "whose head blew up," while The Ring described a brutal hematoma and The Ring and NZ Herald reported that Miller was taken to hospital. The extent of the swelling and the timing of the stoppage were the focus of much of the reaction, with social media criticism aimed at Miller's corner and the medical staff for allowing him to continue.

What the coverage does not establish is Miller's longer-term condition, whether he will continue his career, or the medical details of his treatment. The Ring's report that he left the hospital is the clearest update provided on his condition.