Hugo Santillan, a 23-year-old Argentinian boxer, died on July 25 from injuries he suffered during a bout over the weekend.
The World Boxing Council announced the death, writing on Twitter: “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,” the organization added.
Santillan fought Eduardo Javier Abreu in Buenos Aires, with the council’s Latino Silver lightweight title up for grabs.
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
While waiting for the verdict on the fight, Santillan collapsed, reported La Nacion. He was rushed to a hospital and underwent an emergency operation for a blood clot in his brain.
He had two cardiac arrests and never recovered. Dr. Graciela Olocco, director of the Hospital of San Nicolas, said that Santillan “never left his coma.”
Describing what happened, the World Boxing Association said Santillan “suffered a faint” after his fight.
“After a hard fight in which both fought 10 rounds that ended in a draw, the home fighter collapsed in the arms of his trainers and was assisted up before being transferred to a medical center. The dramatic scene was broadcast live on a local channel and has been around the continent,” the association stated.
???????? Terrible incompetence scene in Abreu vs Santillan fight
????Details:https://t.co/mcF45Ztyhf#boxing #boxe #boxeo #Boks #boxen #бокс #box #TTR #video #The13thRound #PacquiaoThurman #Thurman #Pacquiao #UgasFigueroa #ThurmanPacquiao #PBConFox #PBConFOXPPV #ChisoraSzpilka pic.twitter.com/2CBK8r8bUO
— The13thRound (@BoxingHls) July 21, 2019
The death came after Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died on Tuesday, July 23 after being put into a medically induced coma due to injuries he suffered during a fight in Maryland.
Dadashev, 28, a Russian junior welterweight contender, was battling Subriel Matias of Puerto Rico in the fight, which was televised on ESPN, when Matias began pummeling him.
Dadashev took a number of blows to his face as his trainer Buddy McGirt asked him to give up.
The fight was eventually called and Dadashev was rushed to a nearby hospital, UM Prince George’s Hospital Center.
RIP Maxim Dadashev.
He passed away from injuries suffered during Friday’s fight, according to trainer Buddy McGirt and Donatas Janusevicius, Dadashev’s strength and conditioning coach.
We join Maxim’s family and friends in grief, support and wish prompt resignation.
Via @espn pic.twitter.com/8Pbu6cD6LC
— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) July 23, 2019
A sad, sad week for boxing. We are devastated to hear that 23 year old Hugo Santillan has passed away following a bout this weekend in his native Argentina. RIP
— Kalle & Nisse Sauerland (@SauerlandBros) July 25, 2019
Donatas Janusevicius, Dadashev’s strength and conditioning coach, and the boxer’s trainer Buddy McGirt confirmed the death to ESPN.
“It just makes you realize what type of sport we’re in, man,” McGirt said. “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,” the trainer added, lauding Dadashev as a “great guy.”
Reacting to the two deaths, boxing promoters Kalle and Nisse Sauerland wrote: “A sad, sad week for boxing.”
