British boxer Umar Sadiq reportedly spent the minutes after his latest fight in the hospital after coughing up blood.
The 32-year-old was handed a 12th round defeat by Fyodor Chudinov in Khimki, near Moscow in Russia.
The Sun reports that Sadiq needed oxygen after the fight and was immediately rushed to the hospital.
Russian outlet TASS reports said the boxer fell ill during routine doping checks, leading to an ambulance being called after he coughed blood.
Sadiq went into the fight against Chudinov with 10 wins but said earlier that the bout was rushed.
Speaking to the Mirror ahead of the fight, he said: “If I wasn’t confident of winning I wouldn’t be out here because let’s face, I didn’t have to take the fight did I?
Umar Sadiq proved last night that he can mix it beyond British level. He can hold his head up high with that performance and we can’t wait to have him back on these shores 👏 @TopBoxerSadiq 👊 pic.twitter.com/HgUKv7LmSH
— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) September 12, 2020
“As much as I’m the one getting in the ring, it’s still a team effort and I’ve got great people around me which is why I say ‘we’. Together, we’re here to do the business.
“It’s all been very rushed, sudden and out of nowhere but when you stay ready then you’re ready to grab opportunities like this by the horns and that’s what I’m doing.”
🥊🇬🇧 HEARTBREAK FOR UMAR
After a superb effort over in Russia, Umar Sadiq is stopped in the final round against Fedor Chudinov
Gave everything throughout and it was exhaustion as much as hurtful shots which proved too much in the final 3 minutes
Take a bow @TopBoxerSadiq 👏 pic.twitter.com/tMz6uS2xdw
— Boxing UK (@Boxing_UK_) September 11, 2020
He added: “Chudinov, right now, as we speak is third in line with the WBA and with all the governing bodies he’s ranked in the top five or the top six.
“I know that I will literally be one of the top middleweights in the world after Friday night as long as I get the job so it’s a massive opportunity.”
Meanwhile, no update has come from Sadiq or his team on the boxer’s current condition.
