'Truly shameful': Anger over 'disgraceful' treatment of boxer before death
WARNING: The following article contains disturbing images that some readers might find confronting.
There are widespread calls for changes to professional boxing after the second death of a fighter this week.
Argentine super lightweight Hugo Santillan, 23, died on Thursday from injuries suffered in the ring five days ago.
The tragedy comes just two days after Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died at 28 after suffering brain injuries during a fight last Friday in Maryland.
Santillan passed away at a Buenos Aires hospital where he was being treated for injuries suffered in his Saturday fight against Uruguayan Eduardo Abreu, the World Boxing Council (WBC) said on its website.
"The World Boxing Council and its President, Mauricio Sulaiman Saldivar, send Hugo's family and friends their deepest condolences, at this time of deepest grief," said the WBC.
RIP Hugo Santillan.
He passed away from injuries suffered during Saturday’s fight which ended in a draw.
We join Hugo’s family and friends in grief, support and wish prompt resignation.
Via @marcosarienti pic.twitter.com/WwT7LyLXIW— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) July 25, 2019
An ESPN report that cited a doctor from the hospital where Santillan was treated said the boxer underwent surgery for a clot in his brain and twice went into cardiorespiratory failure before he died of cardiac arrest.
According to fight reports, Santillan's nose began to bleed in the fourth round of the draw against Abreu.
‘DEVASTATED’: Boxer's heartbreak over death of opponent
Disturbing video shows him being held up by trainers as the result is being announced, before collapsing in the ring and receiving medical treatment.
Santillan appeared barely conscious as his arm was raised in the air to declare he’d won, the stricken fighter lurching forward before his trainer grabbed him.
The video was quickly condemned on social media, with members of the fighting world slamming the way Santillan was treated when he clearly needed urgent medical attention.
Two-time world champion boxer Paul Malignaggi, who famously sparred with Conor McGregor before the UFC star’s bout with Floyd Mayweather, led the calls for an urgent rethink about the safety of fighters.
“This is happening more and more,” he said on Twitter.
“Safety measures on a worldwide basis including strict medical/drug testing need to be implemented EVERYWHERE.
“This is the most dangerous sport in the world. We need people to care 4 the benefit of the sport and fighters.”
https://t.co/hjIWOtStsD This is happening more and more. Safety measures on a worldwide basis including strict medical/drug testing need to be implemented EVERYWHERE. This is the most dangerous sport in the world. We need people to care 4 the benefit of the sport and fighters.
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) July 25, 2019
"There have now been at least two boxing tragedies per year since 2017. Before that, there had been six deaths in the previous seven years."
Let's hope these tragic deaths will actually be the start of implementing better safety for fighters.— Baz's BOXING Bible 🥊📖 (@MrBazza) July 25, 2019
More has to be done by the governing bodies to protects these boxers . Sad ☹️
— Lance (@lancewhittaker1) July 25, 2019
I think the weight cut needs to change. The brain must be fully hydrated ffs . This is to @theRealEnzoMac also would changes to the gloves help ? But the body must be hydrated
— Rood van de zoothout (@de_rood) July 25, 2019
Sickening footage. RIP
— Mickey (@MickeyTracey) July 25, 2019
Maybe have ringside doctors have access to glove sensor data to measure forcd, how many hits boxer receives to the head, etc. that would be beneficial to them making a decision to stop the fight.
— Ricky (@querubinx_) July 25, 2019
The World Boxing News account said Santillan didn’t receive oxygen soon enough.
Hugo Santillán, right, waited far too long to receive oxygen when clearly in difficulty/struggling to stand up.
Oxygen is proven to be vital in early moments if there's a serious problem.
Why not administer mandatory oxygen before results of long hard fights?#AnotherGone pic.twitter.com/RYaCwI8FKQ— 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙇𝘿 𝘽𝙊𝙓𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 (@WorldBoxingNews) July 25, 2019
That video was dreadful wasn’t it, there’s got to be some negligence in that! I agree with that yea, people will always fight for a multitude of reasons but in relation to the Santillan death, the people in the ring at that point should have been able to see those signals
— Dave Roberts (@DavidRoberts123) July 25, 2019
Still going ahead! The manner in which Hugo Santillan was looked after following his fight was a disgrace, truly truly shameful
— Pichael Hall 🇪🇸 (@ThomasHall99) July 25, 2019
The more I read about events around the Hugo Santillan tragedy - hard not to feel anger at such callous disregard for an obviously ailing boxer.
I wont share video but a disgraceful scene - those responsible for the safety of the boxers in that ring need to be held accountable.— Chris Bieszad (@ChrisBieszad) July 25, 2019
After seeing footage of the distressing post fight scenes, I presume the WBC will ban everyone involved. That was incompetence beyond belief. Perhaps criminal charges should be considered. Disgraceful scenes. Poor Santillan. RIP 😥
— Glenn Wilson (@bigman2001_gw) July 25, 2019
Trainer stopped Dadashev fight
In similar circumstances just 48 hours earlier, Dadashev collapsed on his way to the locker room after his fight and was rushed to hospital.
However his trainer saw that he was struggling and threw in the towel before the end of the fight.
“It just makes you realise what type of sport we’re in, man,” trainer Buddy McGirt
told ESPN on Tuesday.
“He did everything right in training, no problems, no nothing.
“My mind is like really running crazy, right now. Like what could I have done differently?
“But at the end of the day, everything was fine [in training]. He seemed OK, he was ready, but it’s the sport that we’re in. It just takes one punch, man.”
with agencies