A doctor's note: 'Somehow, Mr O’Sullivan managed to fight and win two weeks after suffering this injury'

I’ve had friends and colleagues tell me I’d be mad to reveal a brutal injury like this. Any future opponent now knows where I’ve been damaged. But I’m a 41-year-old who’s spent most of his life fighting

A STRETCH: ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan punching his way to a comeback - if painful - victory at the National Stadium over Mateusz Pawlowski. Pic: Laszlo Geczo, Inpho

Last month at the National Stadium, I sat down on my stool between rounds and thought to myself “they’re going have to have someone come in here and sweep the ring between rounds!” 

It wasn’t because the canvas was crimson with the spills of battle. No. It was my bloody shorts. They were disintegrating with every step I took, threads and fluff and bits of fabric floating down.