The 32-year-old’s corner ran into a storm of criticism for not pulling their man out of a fight in which he sustained almost constant punishment.

But McCullough’s wife and manager Cheryl McCullough said today: “My husband is a true warrior and once again proved that by fighting to the final bell.”

The McCulloughs issued another statement today regarding the fighter’s time in hospital.

It read: “Wayne did not collapse following his championship bout on Saturday night, nor did he slip into unconsciousness at any time.

“Doctors have assured Wayne that there are no neurological problems as a result of the 12-round bout and we categorically refute earlier media reports that a brain scan was required.”

McCullough failed a brain scan three years ago and had his licence temporarily revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control.

But doctors in America had a different opinion and allowed the former WBC bantamweight champion to resume his career before McCullough persuaded the Board to have a change of heart.

McCullough has never been stopped in his 30-fight career although many observers believed referee John Coyle should have stepped in to stop Saturday’s contest in the late rounds.

And he is now being urged by many to quit the sport he has graced while he still has his health and reputation intact.

Dave McAuley and McCullough’s ex-promoter Barney Eastwood today both called on the “Pocket Rocket” to retire.

“It’s not healthy to be as brave as Wayne McCullough. Everybody thinks they can go on forever but when he gets home and watches the tape then I hope he will see that it is time to go,” said McAuley.

“He took a terrible beating in the eighth round and everybody knew that he didn’t have the power to stop Harrison and the corner and the referee let him take those punches, punches that will do him no good at all.

“Wayne has been a credit to boxing, he won a genuine world title and he is one of the greatest Irish fighters of all time but it’s time for him to do something else with his life.”

Eastwood agreed with McAuley, adding: “It was the most cruel, one-sided, systematic beating that I have seen in 50 years of watching boxing.

“From the very start it was clear that he was in big trouble and if I had been at the fight I would have been over at the corner telling them to stop it.

“He was ready to be pulled out after the sixth round and then in the eighth round he was fighting on instinct, he had everything and yet he was still allowed to fight on.

“I’ve been involved in enough fights to know that when a fighter gets to that stage that’s when the real danger is happening.

“How he survived the 12 rounds is unbelievable but I just hope there is no long-term damage.”