Medical expert shares how long it will take for Zak Miller’s swelling, called the ‘worst injury ever,’ to go down
A medical expert has shared an update on Zac Miller after the boxer suffered a nasty injury that even former world champion Carl Frampton found shocking.
On Saturday night, Miller fought Gully Powar for the British featherweight title during the undercard of the main event between Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson at the AO in Manchester Arena.
The intense fight had to be stopped in the tenth round because of a serious swelling on Miller’s head. This injury, called a hematoma, was caused by an accidental clash of heads that happened five rounds earlier.
Miller kept fighting, but the swelling above his left eye kept growing, and another hematoma appeared on the right side of his head along with a large cut.
Doctors checked Miller during the ninth round and let him continue, but by the tenth round, they stepped in again, and the referee ended the fight. Powar won by a technical decision and took the vacant title. Commentator Carl Frampton said, “It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”
Miller, 29, was taken to the hospital after the fight, and his team shared a health update. His manager, Kevin Maree, wrote on social media, “We’re happy to say Zac Miller is doing well after last night’s injury. An accidental clash of heads caused significant swelling on the top of his head. He was checked thoroughly at the venue before going to the hospital for more tests.”
“He stayed in the hospital for observation and had a full check-up. Thankfully, the medical team is pleased with his progress, and we expect him to be back to his usual self very soon.”
Hematomas are common in combat sports because strong hits can cause small blood vessels to burst, often resulting in big lumps on the face, which doesn’t have much padding to protect it.
There’s no official word on when Miller will recover or return to the ring. But SPORTbible spoke with a medical expert to get an idea of the healing process.
Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Henry D. Sandel IV explained, “The swelling looks bad, but this kind of hematoma can be fairly simple to treat. It’s a collection of blood under the skin, usually from a small blood vessel breaking just beneath the forehead or scalp.”
“This hematoma needs to be drained, which is usually done through a small cut, sometimes with only local anesthesia. After removing the blood and controlling any bleeding, a small drain might be left in place for a day or two to stop blood from building up again. If healing goes well, the swelling should improve a lot within about a week.”
He added, “Getting hit again in the same spot could cause more bleeding. When Zac returns to boxing depends on how well the area heals, if he had a concussion or other injuries, and when doctors give the all-clear.”
Dr. Stephanie Power, another plastic surgeon, couldn’t comment on Miller’s case specifically but talked about a typical recovery timeline. She said, “If a large forehead or scalp hematoma isn’t surgically treated, it can take weeks or more to heal. The swelling is usually worst in the first two to three days, with bruising spreading and fading over two to three weeks, sometimes moving around the eyes. Boxers should avoid further hits to the area for four to six weeks.”
She explained, “Key factors in healing include whether the hematoma is still growing, its size, any fractures or concussions, and if it gets infected or hardens. Getting hit again or taking blood thinners can slow recovery.”
Dr. Power added, “A small, stable hematoma can be treated with ice, rest, elevation, and compression. But a large one that keeps growing may need surgery to remove the blood and stop bleeding. Early draining is important to prevent infection and permanent lumps.”
We wish Zac Miller a smooth and speedy recovery!