Boxing Is Too Late To Change

Recent deaths in the ring lead one to wonder why measures aren’t being made to make the sport safer.

The biggest story in the fight game last weekend was supposed to be Manny Pacquio against Keith Thurman for “welterweight supremacy” on Saturday.

But it wasn’t. It was Russian junior welterweight Maxim Dadashev, 28, dying after his fight with Subriel Matias.

If you haven’t seen the video, do so now. Respected trainer Buddy McGirt begging Dadashev, who like his opponent was 13–0, to allow him to stop the fight.

It is, but it’s too late. Dadashev vomits and collapses on his way out of the ring. After brain surgery, he dies four days later.

If that doesn’t break your heart, then perhaps the statement from Dadashev’s wife, Elizaveta Apushkina, who lives in Russia with a young son, will.

“[Dadashev] was a very kind person who fought until the very end,” she said. “Our son will continue to be raised to be a great man like his father.”

This follows the November boxing fatality of Christian Daghio.

Daghio is an interesting story. Imagine taking up boxing professionally a week before your 46th birthday, winning your first 10 fights…