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'Brutal cruel sport': Boxing star dies in 'horrific' tragedy

Yahoo Sport Australia

WARNING: The following article contains graphic images that some viewers may find confronting.

The boxing world has been rocked by the death of Russian star Maxim Dadashev, after he died from injuries sustained in a fight in Maryland.

"Maxim Dadashev has died in the United States following injuries sustained during his fight with Subriel Matias," the Russian boxing federation said in a statement.

The 28-year-old underwent emergency brain surgery in Washington after his super-lightweight bout with Puerto Rican Matias on Friday was stopped in the 11th round by his cornerman James "Buddy" McGirt.

“It just makes you realise what type of sport we’re in, man,” McGirt told ESPN on Tuesday.

Maxim Dadashev receives attention from his trainers after the fight. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Maxim Dadashev receives attention in his corner after the fight. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

“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.”

Dadashev collapsed after fight

Dadashev, known as "Mad Max", was unable to walk to the dressing room after the fight and was immediately hospitalised.

Doctors operated to relieve pressure from swelling on his brain.

"Right now, he's in critical condition, but the doctor told me that he's stable," Dadashev's strength and conditioning coach, Donatas Janusevicius, had told ESPN after the operation.

Maxim Dadashev during his fight with Subriel Matias in Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Maxim Dadashev during his fight with Subriel Matias. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

McGirt said after the fight he "couldn't convince" his fighter to stop, but opted to throw in the towel when he saw him "getting hit with more and more clean shots as the fight went on".

“I saw him fading and when he came back to the corner [after the 11th round], my mind was already made up,” McGirt said on Tuesday.

“I was just asking him out of respect, but my mind was made up. I wasn’t going to let him go out there.”

Russian boxing chief Umar Kremlev told Russian media that Dadashev's body would be repatriated home and that his family would receive financial aid.

Dadashev took an unbeaten 13-0 record into the 140-pound non-title fight.

The boxing world has been left devastated.

with agencies