I'll come back even better, vows stabbed boxer

Caoimhin Hynes said it was only starting to sink in how lucky he is to be alive.

The 20-year-old, who is a member of the Holy Trinity boxing club, was attacked by a group of men wearing tracksuits at Donegall Place shortly before 3am on Monday.

Posting to Facebook from his hospital bed, he said: “It’s only really hitting me now how much things could have been different and how it could be a wake everyone could have been going to and not the hospital to see me.”

He added: “I promise I’ll be back better than ever in terms of boxing wise.

“This is only a little crack in my road to success.”

A number of big names from the boxing world have wished Mr Hynes a speedy recovery.

Carl Frampton tweeted: “Disgraceful and disgusting. Hope he’ll be back to doing what he does best soon.”

Tyson Fury posted to Twitter: “Get well soon pal and may God bless you.”

Barry McGuigan also took to Twitter to say: “What sort of cowards could do this? When they catch them, they should all be made do thirds with Caoimhin #dirtbags”.