Danger of death: two boxers die in the space of a week
Boxing can be a dangerous sport which can result in minor and major injuries, and fatalities. There have also been many near deaths such as the fight between Melquizael Costa and Rafael Barbosa.
Recently, two boxers have died due to their injuries sustained from their fights. Professional Argentinian fighter Hugo Alfredo “Dinamita” Santillan died on Thursday, at the young age of 23.
Santillan’s death follows the death of Russian boxed Maxim Dadashev. Dadashev was 28 years old when he sustained injuries from his fight that put him into a medically induced coma. The professional Russian boxer died a few days later.
Dadashev sustained similar injuries to that of Hugo Alfredo Santillan, during his fight in Maryland against professional Puerto Rican boxer, Subriel Matias.
Fatalities due to injuries received from boxing is not uncommon, with 1,875 boxers who have died as a result of their injuries from 1890 to 2019. However, the news of two professional boxers dying within a week is shocking the industry.
Hugo Alfredo “Dinamita” Santillan
Santillan who was a super lightweight boxer faced professional boxer from Uruguay, Eduardo Javier Abreu.
The fight went ahead in Buenos Aires, as the two fighters fought to be titled the World Boxing Council’s Latino silver lightweight champion.
The fight ended in a draw. However, as the result of the bout was announced, Santillan collapsed and was taken to hospital.
Local reports state that Santillan’s nose started to bleed in the fourth round but that he was able to finish the fight.
Following Santillan’s collapsing he was quickly admitted to the Agudos San Felipe hospital. His doctor, Dr Graciela Olocco said, “Upon admission to the hospital, he had successive kidney failure and he did not come out of his coma. He had swelling of this brain and he never recovered consciousness.”
Despite Santillan having surgery for a clot on the brain, he later died after a cardiac arrest because the swelling continued to worsen and it affected the functioning of the rest of his organs.
It is reported that Santillan suffered three heart attacks whilst he was being treated, including one on Wednesday night, before he was later declared dead on Thursday morning.
According to Sebastián Garcia, a sports journalist from MONEDEROSMART, “It is very difficult to see a professional boxer lose his life, never mind two within the space of a week – especially when both Santillan and Dadashev still had a long and promising career ahead of them. Since 1983, there have sadly been 11 professional Latino boxers who have died as a result of boxing and their injuries.”
Mr Garcia goes on to say, “The sport of professional boxing needs to re-evaluate the dangers of death and look into ways of safeguarding people’s lives so this doesn’t happen again.”
At his time of passing, Santillan had a professional record of 19-6-2 with 8 knock-outs. Everybody within the boxing community are deeply saddened by the tragic events of both fights and are hoping that something can be done in the future to prevent such tragedy.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends of both professional boxers, Santillan and Dadashev.
