Boxer Dies From Injuries Sustained in Bout (Las Vegas 5 Days Ago)

[RamboLiberal]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050923/D8CPLKL83.html

Boxer Leavander Johnson died Thursday from injuries sustained five days earlier in a lightweight title fight with Jesus Chavez.

The 35-year-old died at University Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized since being injured in the fight Saturday night at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

A hospital spokeswoman said Johnson was pronounced dead at 4:23 p.m.

Johnson's promoter, Lou DiBella, said Johnson's family members were present when he died. Johnson's father was his trainer and his brother was his manager.

"What a wonderful guy this was. And I've never met anybody so proud or so grateful to achieve his dream," DiBella said. "If there's any solace to be taken in this, it's that he died doing what he loved. He died a champion."



Leavander Johnson, left, takes a right from Jesus Chavez during the 8th round of their IBF...

I think it's time for pro boxing to get head gear - and yes, I know brain injuries can still occur with that gear. And maybe it's time for boxing to die as a sport.

[Wilms]

1. But, but, but...he died doing what he loves...

getting lacerations on his brain.

Way to go, "Champ". :eyes:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Whew. Thought it was BARBARA Boxer. (nt)

[RamboLiberal]

3. Nah - Barbara Boxer could whip Dubya's ass any day

eom

[madmax]

4. Maybe it's just me

but boxing is on my short list of STUPID 'sports'.


Yeah, we've come a long way baby...


:wtf:

[dr.zoidberg]

5. Hey, that's a great idea!

Let's just get a piece of equipment that could slide over the eyes of the boxer, preventing him from being able to defend himself. That'll be great. :eyes:

[Awsi Dooger]

6. I was supposed to attend but I'm glad I didn't

I had to work late when two guys in our office were sick and my friend and I assumed extra workload. I gave a friend my ticket. That night he called me and told me about Johnson's injury. I love boxing and am looking forward to Jones/Tarver, but up close the fights are undeniably brutal. TV makes it seem a bit more antiseptic than reality.

[H2O Man]

7. I'm sorry he died.

However, boxing is a sport that people participate in every day of the year, all around the world. There are amatuer and professional fights every single day. Yet fewer boxers die each year, total, than die in high school football or golf.

Also, as anyone familiar with boxing knows, a headgear is only good for protecting a fighter from getting cut. In fact, a headgear can be dangerous. Here's why: the vast majority of boxers die, not from the blows they take in the ring, but from the whiplash sustained when they hit the bottom rope when decked. There are exceptions such as Bennie Paret, but most -- including LaVern Roach, Sugar Ramos, Davey Moore, and Duk Koo-Kim -- died because of the very ring equipment that is supposed to protect them.

A headgear adds weight to the head. The impact going down is greater. It would not change anything as far as deaths. It might cause more injuries than it prevents.

A federal commission that keeps "at risk" fighters from being victimized by the vultures who manage and promote them would likely help.

****PS: moving the lower strand out by 4 inches would also serve as a way to protect fighters from whiplash. Rubin Carter advocated for this in the 1980s; Angelo Dundee agreed fully with him. Promoters ignored him.