23-Year-Old Boxer Dies Two Days After Losing A 10-Round Featherweight Boxing Match
According to CBS News, a 23-year-old boxer died two days after losing a 10-round featherweight boxing match. Braydon Smith was put in an induced coma at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia after collapsing and becoming unconscious 90 minutes following the boxing match at Rumours International in Toowoomba, Australia. Smith never regained consciousness and was surrounded by family and close friends when he died.
Smith was conscious right after losing in a unanimous points decision. Before collapsing in his dressing room, he was alert and talking. He even praised and congratulated his opponent, John Vincent Moralde of the Philippines, for winning the WBC Asian Boxing Council continental title bout. It was said that Smith also took part in an interview following his loss. Even though he wobbled once in the ninth round, he didn’t exhibit any signs of being impaired enough for officials to stop the fight.
“I’m very saddened to hear of Braydon’s condition, but I am praying for his full recovery. My prayers are with his family.”
ABC News reported that the Australian boxer was also in his final year of law school and would have graduated later this year. Smith, who would have turned 24 next month, was excited about this particular fight because he and his opponent were both undefeated with a record of 12 wins. Family, friends, fans, and those in the close knit local boxing community are in deep mourning over the death of the boxer. Close friend and family spokesman, James O’Shea, let the public know that Smith was an organ donor and many others will be helped.
Smith began his professional debut in 2011, and became a rising boxing star because he simply loved the sport. He was described as a young man who never got into any trouble. He didn’t drink, and he didn’t smoke. He was so dedicated to boxing and to law that he was determined to succeed at both. So he kept physically fit and was in good shape at the time of his death.
A boxer can receive injuries from repeated punches to his body, including heavy hits to the head, face, arms, stomach, back, and legs that could cause much damage and sometimes lead to death. Apparently, that was the case with Smith.
The entire boxing community and those who knew the 23-year-old mourn his death. Condolences are expressed to Braydon Smith’s family through social media.
[Image credited to Dave Noonan via The Chronicle]
