BLACKBURN boxer Dezzi Higginson is awaiting a medical examination to find out the extent of damage done to the perforated ear drum he suffered in his loss to Paul Truscott on Saturday night.

Higginson was aiming to avenge a January 2007 defeat by Truscott, a former Commonwealth champion, but was pulled out of the fight by his corner following the end of the fifth round of the lightweight bout at the Oldham Sports Centre.

It is the second time that the 29-year-old has suffered the injury during a fight. The first occurrence was in the January 2010 points defeat to Martin Gethin, a fight for the English lightweight title. This time it was his left ear, the opposite ear to the Gethin bout.

Higginson claimed the fight was “nip and tuck” and said the injury had affected his balance, which caused him to walk on to punches from his opponent. Higginson’s record now stands at 13-10-1 but, despite the loss, he has no regrets about taking the fight at short notice.

He added: “I was given a week’s notice about the fight but it was a fantastic opportunity for me to go up against a quality opponent like Truswell so I couldn’t turn it down.

“It was a ‘war’ but it was very close up until the injury.”

Higginson wanted to thank the fans that had travelled to Oldham for his latest fight.

He said: “I always have great support – they have followed me wherever I’ve fought.”

Higginson also wanted to thank his sponsors, e-den Lettings, Darwen Estates and Trojan Strength and Conditioning.