Man critical after being stabbed in Liverpool city centre is named on social media as boxer's son

THE man left in a critical condition after being stabbed on a "large-scale disturbance" in Liverpool city centre this morning (December 27 2023) has been named on social media.

According to a number of posts the 21-year-old is Anthony Dodson, son of former boxer Tony Dodson.

Leah Davies today posted on Facebook: "Our little world has been turned upside down in the past 12 hours. "My nephew, my little Ant is fighting for his life.. through the stupidity of people carrying knives. This Liverpool is absolutely finished! We love you Anthony Dodson and you are the strongest kid.. we need you lad Like you wouldn’t believe. Please pray everyone come on Ant I’m waiting."

She posted in the last hour: "The love our Ant has it's mind blowing! Been in to see him, not going to lie it absolutely broke me - not something anyone wants to see, but I feel so relieved now seeing his gorgeous face.

"He is fighting the hardest fight yet and I believe he will come out the champ he is...  you got this lad we are all here waiting for you..

"He is stable and in the best place he can be in right now -  please keep him in your thoughts.. coz I am telling you he isn’t giving up we need you lad and your Dad more than anyone we love you."

Tony Dodson senior, 43, fought from 1999 to 2016 and held the British super middleweight title in 2003.

Boxer Anthony Fowler posted on X today with a picture of Dodson junior: "Everyone praying for you lad."

It came as Merseyside Police issued a new appeal this evening.

A force spokesman said: "We are continuing to appeal for witnesses following a large-scale disturbance in Liverpool city centre this morning, Wednesday 27th December, in which three men were injured.

"At around 5.30am patrols located a 21-year-old man at the junction of Church Street and Whitechapel with stab wounds to the chest.

"Officers gave medical assistance to the man and he was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

"A further two males self-presented at hospital with injuries. One of the males, also aged 21, had a stab wound to the back and is stable in hospital. A third man, aged 23, suffered a laceration to the head.

"It is believed the injuries are linked to a disturbance involving two groups of males who left the Safe House bar onto Peter Street a short time earlier."

The investigation is ongoing and CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries are being carried out.

Local businesses and city centre partners have been spoken to in order to offer reassurance and a mobile police station is currently in place in Lord Street. Members of the public are invited to speak to officers if they have any questions or concerns.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts said: “We know that there were vehicles and pedestrians in the area of Peter Street who may have witnessed the disturbance and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area to come forward.

“I would ask taxi and delivery drivers to check their dashcams to see if they captured anything significant and members of the public to come forward if they captured any photographs or video footage on their mobile phones.

“Knife crime has no place on the streets of Merseyside and we are committed to finding the people who choose to carry knives. We need the public to speak to their family and friends and make it socially unacceptable for them to even think of carrying weapons.

“While people may be concerned when they hear of incidents such a this I want to reiterate that Merseyside has seen a 22 percent decrease in knife crime in 2022-2023 compared to the previous year, the second highest reduction of any county nationally and the force remains determined to further reduce knife crime and the devastating impact it has on individuals, families, and the wider community.

"We aim to do this through working with partners, educating people and using robust policing methods including dispersal zones, stop searches and Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVRO).”

Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 23001323831.