Former light-heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson has been placed in a medically-induced coma following his 11th round KO loss to Oleksandr Gvozdyk on Saturday night.
The 41-year-old Stevenson was stopped after a succession of flush straight right hands from Gvozdyk with 13 seconds remaining in the round.
Stevenson sank to his knees as the ref called off the bout. He appeared lucid on his stool but later left the ring on a stretcher. In the locker room, Stevenson complained of dizziness and was rushed to the hospital
His promoter, Yvon Michel, disclosed on social media that Stevenson was in intensive care and the medically-induced coma was done as a precaution to prevent additional brain swelling.
“It’s an accident and it’s an event that was not predictable,” Michel told the Montreal Journal. I have never experienced such a situation in my 38-year career. “
The defeat puts an end to Stevenson’s controversial five-year reign as the division’s lineal champion. His level of opposition had been routinely criticized over the years until his 2018 battles against Badou Jack (Draw) and Gvozdyk.
At press time, Stevenson’s condition is listed as stable.
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This was a good fight that’s been overshadowed by the hard truth the sport can never escape —Â fighter’s risk their very lives every time they step in the ring.
I’ve seen a few people foolishly claiming that Stevenson’s current condition is the result of “karma.” For those unaware, Stevenson has a disgraceful past as a pimp and did time in prison for assaulting his workers.
I have no problems with anyone who continues to have a personal dislike for Stevenson based on his past deeds. I have similar feelings for guys like Carlos Monzon and Edwin Valero. However, that isn’t an excuse to disrespect the fallen warriors of our sport with this karma copout.
Yes, when you frame this boxing injury as some sort of cosmic karma for past misdeeds, you’re making a mockery of every boxer that’s lost their life or suffered permanent damage in the ring. Boxers don’t get injured or killed in the ring because of karma. It happens because they engage in arguably the most dangerous sport on the planet for our entertainment.
Period. End of story.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 