“I prayed endlessly for you and shed many tears”

Before the fans had survived the death of Maxim Dadashev, a new tragedy shocked the boxing world. From injuries sustained in a fight with compatriot Charles Conwell, American Patrick Day died. Doctors fought for the athlete's life for several days, but they could not be saved. The death of an athlete was reported by the official WBC website.

“The WBC and organization president Mauricio Suleiman deeply mourn the death of Patrick Day. He died today from a head injury sustained during a fight on Saturday, October 12, ”the report on the website of the World Boxing Council said.

And on the official website of the promotion company Lou Dibella, representing the interests of the athlete, it is said that the boxer died surrounded by his family, close friends, as well as team members, among whom was coach Joe Higgins.

The fatal fight for Day took place in Las Vegas on the night of October 12-13. His main event was the meeting of the former undisputed world heavyweight champion Alexander Usik with Chazz Witherspoon. As a result, the battle ended in victory for the Ukrainian - after the seventh round, the opponent refused to continue the fight.

And on the undercard of the main event, including Day and Conwell, who fought for the regional title according to USBA, came together. The fight was extremely unsuccessful for Patrick. In the fourth and eighth rounds, Day was knocked down, and in the tenth opponent sent him to a deep knockout. The doctors could not bring the boxer to themselves, he was carried out of the ring on a stretcher. Directly from the arena, the athlete was taken to the hospital, where he underwent an emergency operation on the brain.

After that, American journalists reported that Day was in a coma, but did not specify whether she was medically or caused by trauma. According to information on Sunday evening, the boxer's condition was extremely difficult.

Conwell himself felt depressed. Shortly before the death of an opponent, he even published a touching message to him on social networks.

“I did not want this to happen to you. I just wanted to win. If I could, I would take time back because no one deserves it. Again and again, I scroll through this battle in my head, wondering what would have happened if this had not happened, and why it had happened to you. I can’t stop thinking about it, I prayed endlessly for you and shed many tears, because I could not even imagine how my family and my friends would feel. I see you everywhere and hear only beautiful things about you. I thought about quitting boxing, but I know that this is not what you would like. I know that you were a fighter to the core, so I decided not to do this. Instead, I decided to fight and win the belt of the world champion, because this is what you wanted and what I want. Therefore, every day you will be my motivation and, be sure, every time in the ring I will leave all of myself, ”Conwell wrote.

View this Instagram post

This is my last time speaking on the situation because of this being a sensitive topic not only for his family and friends but for myself and the sport of boxing. Dear Patrick Day, I never meant for this to happen to you. All I ever wanted to do was win. If I could take it all back I would no one deserves for this to happen to them. I replay the fight over and over in my head thinking what if this never happened and why did it happen to you. I can't stop thinking about it myself I prayed for you so many times and shedded so many tears because I couldn't even imagine how my family and friends would feel. I see you everywhere I go and all I hear is wonderful things about you. I thought about quitting boxing but I know that's not what you would want I know that you were a fighter at heart so I decided not to but to fight and win a world title because that's what you wanted and thats what I want so I'll use you as motivation every day and make sure I always leave it all in the ring every time. #ChampPatrickDay With Compassion, Charles Conwell

Posted by Boxings Best Kept Secret 🤫 (@charlesconwell) Oct 14, 2019 at 3:54 pm PDT

“He didn't have to do boxing”

At the same time, it is difficult to name Day as a well-known boxer, because his career in professional boxing has only just begun. But on an amateur level, Patrick loudly declared himself at home. He won two national titles, as well as the prestigious Golden Gloves tournament in New York, and was even a substitute for the Olympic team that participated in the 2012 Games in London.

Day began his professional career in 2013 and has since spent 21 fights, in which he won 17 victories (six by KO) and suffered four defeats. In 2017, he managed to conquer the WBC Continental Americas regional belt.

Meanwhile, the promoter of the athlete Dibella after the death of the ward said that he did not have to do boxing in order to earn a living.

“He was from a good family, smart, educated, he had the right values. Before Patrick, other opportunities were opened to earn a living. He chose boxing, knowing what risks each fighter faces when entering the ring. Boxing is what Pat really loved. That is what he inspired people. That is what made him feel alive, ”the official website of his promotion company quotes Dibella.

The death of Dadashev and coma Abdusalamova

Unfortunately, the tragedy with Day, as already mentioned, was not the first of its kind in recent years. Just a few months ago, the Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died. The domestic athlete, like his American counterpart, received severe brain injuries in the ring.

After the fight with Subriel Mathias, the Russian operation was carried out, he was also immersed in a medical coma. However, all the efforts made were in vain, and July 23 Dadashev died. And the wife of Maxim Elizabeth Apushkina intends to sue the Maryland Athletic Commission.

“After the fight stopped, the stretcher was not taken out into the ring, Maxim’s head was not covered with ice, he was forced to walk on his own, although his legs were already giving way, he was hanging on the hands of people helping him. And in the event of such injuries, minutes decide everything. Every extra movement can cost a life, ”Apushkina explained in an interview with Sport Express.

In 2011, after a fight with Sergei Kovalev, who is currently the World Welterweight Champion according to the WBO, Roman Simakov died.

The fight took place in Yekaterinburg, and the future holder of the championship title looked much stronger than the opponent. In turn, Simakov missed one strong blow after another, but found the strength to continue the fight. However, in the seventh round, the referee still stopped the bout. Kovalev was awarded a victory by technical knockout.

Simakov already lost consciousness in the ring and was taken to the hospital, where he fell into a coma. Unfortunately, the boxer could not be saved; he died without regaining consciousness. The cause of death was a severe head injury and brain contusion.

After this tragedy, Kovalev intended to leave the sport, but in the end he continued his career, and in 2016 transferred to the Simakov family all the fees received for the fight with Isaac Chilemba.

Another well-known Russian boxer Magomed Abdusalamov survived in a similar situation, but remained confined to a wheelchair. In 2013, a talented Dagestan fighter had a tough match with Cuban Mike Peres and was defeated on points.

After the fight, the athlete felt bad, but he was rendered medical assistance very late, which ultimately prevented the boxer from returning to normal. Magomed was brought into a state of artificial coma and part of the skull was removed to reduce the effects of cerebral edema.

Three weeks later, Abdusalamov emerged from a coma, but failed to fully recover. He is still confined to a wheelchair, and the right side of his body is completely paralyzed. The family of the boxer managed to sue $ 22 million from New York State for a medical error.

In 2018, ex-champion Adonis Stevenson was introduced into an artificial coma. After a defeat from the Ukrainian, Alexander Gvozdik, a Canadian was diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage. Doctors refused to give any predictions on the health of the athlete, but he still managed to recover.