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Aficianado

Oscar Gonzalez dies after KO Ioss

Fighters Network
03
Feb

Featherweight boxer Oscar Gonzalez died on Monday afternoon as a result of brain injuries he suffered during a 10th-round knockout loss to Jesus Galicia on Saturday in Mexico City, according to WBC Secretary General Mauricio Sulaiman. Gonzalez was 23.

Sulaiman said he was notified of Gonzalez's passing by his staff members, who were at ringside for the WBC-sanctioned bout and at the hospital where Gonzalez was being treated.

"My staff is at the hospital. I just heard from the hospital. It is confirmed. His wife is there. Medically, there was absolutely nothing that they could do. So he has been pronounced dead," said Sulaiman.

Gonzalez's wife, Magaly Avalos, reportedly was informed by a physician on Sunday that part of the fighter's brain was dead. Earlier reports described Gonzalez as being "in a coma" and "in serious condition."



Gonzalez had previously told his wife that if he did not want to be kept alive if he was in such a condition, according to ESPNDeportes.

Gonzalez (23-3, 14 knockouts) had won three straight fights entering the bout with Galicia (13-7, 8 KOs), including a unanimous decision over former 122-pound beltholder Rico Ramos in April of last year.

"Oscar Gonzalez was a brilliant prospect and he had been known by the WBC for several years," Sulaiman said.

"His fight was not a brutal fight, but we need to continue looking for prevention. This is just an unfortunate accident that reinforces the need to look for proper safety methods for the boxers in order to make boxing safer."

Gonzalez's body will be moved to Tepic, Nayarit in Mexico, in accordance with the wishes of his wife and parents, according to his promoter, Canelo Promotions.

Canelo Promotions reportedly will pay for Gonzalez's funeral expenses.

"Canelo Promotions deeply regrets the death [of Gonzalez]," the company announced on its Twitter account.

 

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