Zak Miller and Gully Powar faced off on Saturday at  AO Arena in Manchester with the British featherweighttitle on the line. But in the tenth round of the fight, the medical team and the referee stopped the bout: an accidental clash of heads had caused a huge swelling on Miller's forehead, which ended up disfiguring his face and it kept growing.

The incident took place in the fifth round. Until then, the fight had unfolded normally, with parity and an exchange of blows. Powar seemed to have the edge while Miller, 29 and from Manchester, had more support from the crowd. But after the clash of heads, Miller began to develop swelling above his left eye. Then another appeared on the right side of his head, which kept increasing in size.

In the ninth round the doctors intervened for the first time. They allowed Miller to continue, but in the tenth the referee requested another examination because the hematoma on the right side kept growing. That was when the fight was stopped and the boxer was taken to a hospital. "It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen," said former world champion Carl Frampton, the fight’s commentator.

According to a statement issued by Miller's team, the boxer was first treated at the stadium and later at the hospital, and afterwards his condition is not serious, while also expressing thanks for the many messages of interest and concern received about his condition. "The medical team is pleased with his progress and I hope he will be back to his best very soon".

Powar took the title by the judges' decision. The clash of heads was not taken into account, as it was accidental.