Updated May 23, 2017 18:28:19

The doctor who was on duty at the ringside when boxer David 'Davey' Browne was hit by a fatal blow told police at the time the fight should have been stopped much earlier, an inquest has heard.

Today, Dr Lawrence Noonan was asked about those comments, at the inquest into the boxer's death at NSW State Coroner's Court in Glebe.

He said he was tired and upset when he was interviewed by police on the night of the fight, but agreed he said the bout should have been stopped in the sixth round.

"That was after 2:00am ... we had just witnessed the death of a young man by extreme violence. I was a bit upset, just like everyone else," Dr Noonan said.

Almost two years after the fighter's death, Dr Noonan's opinion has changed.

Photo: David Browne died after being knocked unconscious during a super featherweight title fight in Sydney. (facebook: Aus-Boxing)

He told the inquest that in his view, Browne was capable of defending himself going into the 12th and final round.

"I thought he was fit enough to give it a go," he said.

Browne was competing in a 12-round bout for a super featherweight title at Ingleburn in Sydney's south-west, when he was knocked unconscious in the final round of the fight.

The 28-year-old later died in hospital.

Under questioning from counsel assisting Kristina Stern SC, Dr Noonan said he did not examine Browne at any time during the bout despite the fact the boxer had been knocked down on two occasions.

"On reflection, I should have got in the ring and looked him in the eye," he said.

He said for a crucial 20 seconds in the final round his view had been obstructed by the referee.

Ms Stern asked him why he had not simply stood up and moved.

Dr Noonan said that would have taken him between five and 10 seconds and he would have had to have taken his eyes off the ring.

Photo: David Browne's widow Amy Lavelle watched her husband deteriorate in the ring. (ABC News: Ursula Malone)

The doctor was pressed on when it was the responsibility of the ringside doctor to intervene to protect a boxer.

Earlier, Browne's wife told the inquest safety procedures at the fatal match were inadequate.

Amy Lavelle said she became particularly concerned after the 11th round.

"I just thought 'oh, surely they won't let him go out. I mean, if he does, that means he must be OK. Because these people know what they're doing, right?'"

The hearing continues.

Topics: boxing, sport, courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, ingleburn-2565, nsw

First posted May 23, 2017 13:01:56