THE son of boxing champion Tony Dodson is currently fighting for his life in hospital after a fight broke out in Liverpool.
Anthony Dodson was stabbed in the heart on Boxing Day during a brawl in the city centre which left three people injured. His aunt, Leah Davies, said on social media: “Our little world has been turned upside down in the past 12 hours. My nephew, my little Ant is fighting for his life.”
She added: “We love you Anthony Dodson and you are the strongest kid I know. We need you lad like you wouldn’t believe.”
Today she wrote: “Our champ is overcoming all! The obstacles he has come across these past 30 hours. He is an absolute warrior.
“We couldn’t be more proud of you Ant we love you lad and I, sitting here waiting for you. “Hoping to wake him up today and see how he responds. He is our little miracle and we are blown away with how strong he is.”
Rachel Fitzgerald, another aunt, said it was the “worst phone call ever” when she was told her nephew had been stabbed.
She said she had found out about the fight on the news, adding: “all along it was my baby.”
Rachel said Anthony is ‘one of the most kind, lovely lads you’ll ever meet”. Another loved one said: “We believe in you so much […] you are as strong as an ox”.
She added Anthony has a “heart of pure gold”.
Anthony, aged in his 20s, was found with stab wounds at around 5.30am on Wednesday, a Merseyside Police spokesperson said.
He was discovered by patrols at the junction of Church Street and Whitechapel.
Officers gave him medical assistance before he was taken to hospital.
Two other men, both in their 20s, self-presented at hospital with injuries, police said.
One had been knifed in the head and the second in the back.
Police said the injuries are believed to be linked to a disturbance involving a large group of males on Victoria Street.
Tony Dodson previously said he didn’t want his son to follow in his footsteps with a boxing career but was keen for him to become a footballer.
He said: “I don’t really want him to but he’s gifted, like I was. So hopefully he can continue, progress, although I’d like him to give up the boxing gloves and get the football boots out.”
Dodson won his first 13 competitive bouts before facing a loss and became British champion in 2003.
Superintendent Helen Bennett said: “Urgent CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries are being carried out in the city centre and as such a large area has been cordoned off.
“It appears that a large disturbance took place on Victoria Street in which three people have been injured.
“We know that there were people in the city centre who may have witnessed the disturbance or possibly come to the assistance of the injured males and we would ask those people to come forward and speak to officers as soon as possible.