Former world champion rushed to hospital and shows off swollen face after nasty injury mid-fight

BADOU JACK was left battered, bruised and hospitalised after his world title fight with Noel Mikaelian on Saturday.

Former three-weight world champion Jack lost his rematch with Armenian–German fighter Mikaelian in Los Angeles.

Jack suffered severe swelling above his right eye

Mikaelian won back his cruiserweight title at the weekendCredit: Shutterstock Editorial And though he stuck it out until the final bell – losing widely on all three scorecards – Jack’s face still bore the scars of a beating.

The 42-year-old addressed fans directly with a social media post from a hospital bed, which showed gruesome swelling above his right eye.

Jack wrote on X: “Today wasn’t our day. But Alhamdulillah I will keep my head high.

“Congratulations to the new champion @noelmikaelian. I’m in the hospital now with a fractured cheekbone from the headbutt in the middle of the fight.

“But Alhamdulillah everything is fine. Thanks for all the support.”

Jack snatched Mikaelian’s WBC cruiserweight belt with a narrow points win in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

But Mikaelian took revenge in convincing fashion over the weekend, with judges scoring the fight 115-111, 116-110 and 116-110.

Mikaelian was deducted a point for punching the back of Jack’s head in the seventh round.

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Jack then evened things up in the eighth, when one his own points was knocked off for punching after the bell in a fiery affair.

A world title winner at super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight – Jack has been an active professional fighter since 2009.

He had racked up 15 consecutive wins before the first blemish on his CV, and has enjoyed a strong record against British fighters.

Jack narrowly beat George Groves in 2015, then drew with James DeGale and knocked out Nathan Cleverly – all within the space of two years.

Jack (right) fought James DeGale in 2017Credit: Getty – Contributor