OXON HILL, Maryland (CelebrityAccess) — A Russian boxer died on Tuesday morning as a direct result of injuries sustained in a televised boxing match on Friday.
According to ESPN, Junior welterweight Maxim Dadashev died following an eleventh round technical knockout loss to Subriel Matias during an ESPN-televised boxing match at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
The Russian Boxing Federation said Dadashev suffered brain swelling following the fight and underwent surgery to address it but suffered from heart failure on Tuesday.
Footage from the fight appears to shows Dadashev shaking his head in his corner as his trainer, Buddy McGirt, tried to convince him to concede the fight. Shortly thereafter, the fight was stopped by the referee.
A hospital spokeswoman issued a statement on behalf of Dadashev’s widow, Elizaveta Apushkina, who had traveled from Russia.
“It is with great sadness that I confirm the passing of my husband, Maxim Dadashev,” she said. “He was a very kind person who fought until the very end. Our son will continue to be raised to be a great man like his father. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone that cared for Maxim during his final days. I ask that everyone please respect our privacy during this very difficult time.”
Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Dadashev relocated to the U.S. to pursue his boxing career, where he lived and trained in Oxnard, according to the Ventura County Star.
“It just makes you realize what type of sport we’re in, man. 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,” McGirt told ESPN following Dadashev’s death.
“He seemed OK. He was ready. But it’s the sport that we’re in. It just takes one punch, man,” McGirt added.
