Jack Bateson has a long period of recovery ahead of him following his loss on Friday night to Michael Conlan.
Bateson, taking on Conlan at the 3Arena in Dublin, was caught by a hard right hand in the fourth round and dropped heavily. He also landed awkwardly, dislocating and breaking his ankle.
The 31-year-old Bateson, of Leeds, UK, is now 20-2-1 (6 KOs), and while Conlan is now looking at another significant fight, Bateson will be trying to get back on his feet.
“I got back from Dublin on Saturday morning and I’m just giving myself some time,” said Bateson. “I’m currently sat in LGI [Leeds General Infirmary], which is the Leeds hospital, because I broke my ankle from the fall when Conlan knocked me down. I felt absolutely fine and clear in my head, I jumped straight back up and then realized something was wrong with my foot or my ankle, so I was sort of hopping on that. Then I think the referee saw that and said, ‘You know what, I’m stopping this fight.’
“It needs an operation – it got dislocated as well. They put it back into place in Dublin, but I’m in Leeds now waiting to get an operation to get it sorted.
“I’m gutted, but it is what it is. It’s boxing. It’s a real shame, but I’ll be back.”
