Malton-based Tommy Johnson, the man who groomed Paul Ingle for stardom, insists he would have pulled the Scarborough featherweight out of the ring halfway through his ill-fated IBF world title defence.

Ingle remains seriously ill but stable in hospital after surgeons removed a blood clot on his brain following his collapse in the ring at Sheffield Arena on Saturday.

Johnson was unable to attend the fight against South African Mbulelo Botile but has since watched videos of the brutal contest at his North Yorkshire home and said he was "shocked" by what he saw.

"I could not believe it. I have never seen Paul like that before," said Johnson, who said his former protege should have been pulled out of the fight long before the 12th round.

"Even as Paul came into the ring he did not look confident. He did not look right at all, he looked drained.

"Paul was out of distance with his punches, they appeared to be carrying no weight and his opponent was controlling the middle of the ring and hitting him.

"I know it is a very hard decision to make in a world title fight but Paul was taking so much punishment I would have pulled him out after five or six rounds."

Robert Battersby, the consultant neurosurgeon who carried out the life-saving operation on Ingle, revealed that a tracheotomy had been carried out on the boxer to ease the pressure on his chest.