The professional boxer was knocked out during a super welterweight fight with Charles Conwell and slipped into a coma after undergoing a surgery to treat the brain injury.
- Oct 17, 2019
AceShowbiz - Boxing world is mourning the loss of one of its own. Patrick Day has died at 27 years old after suffering a traumatic brain injury from a match. The professional boxer passed away on Wednesday, October 16, four days after he was knocked out by Charles Conwell in the 10th round of their USBA super welterweight title fight on Saturday.
His promoter, Lou DiBella, announced his passing in a statement which read, "He was surrounded by his family, close friends and members of his boxing team, including his mentor, friend and trainer Joe Higgins. On behalf of Patrick's family, team, and those closest to him, we are grateful for the prayers, expressions of support and outpouring of love for Pat that have been so obvious since his injury."
DiBella added in the statement, "Patrick Day didn't need to box. He came from a good family, he was smart, educated, had good values and had other avenues available to him to earn a living. He chose to box, knowing the inherent risks that every fighter faces when he or she walks into a boxing ring. Boxing is what Pat loved to do. It's how he inspired people and it was something that made him feel alive."
Day went down in the fourth and eighth rounds before he lost his unconsciousness after he was struck behind the ear in the tenth round. According to SI, after the hit the athlete's eyes instantly rolled back and he began twitching.
He was taken by ambulance in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Day suffered a seizure on the way to the hospital. He underwent emergency surgery to treat the brain injury. He lapsed into a coma and never regained his consciousness.
DiBella said it is "very difficult to explain away or justify the dangers of boxing at a time like this." He, however, ensured that they would honor the legacy of Day by making boxing safer for its participants. "While we don't have the answers, we certainly know many of the questions, have the means to answer them, and have the opportunity to respond responsibly and accordingly and make boxing safer for all who participate," he stated. "This is a way we can honor the legacy of Pat Day."
Two days after he knocked out Day, Conwell took to his social media pages to express his regret over what happened to his fellow boxer and rival. "This is my last time speaking on the situation because of this being a sensitive topic not only for his family and friends but for myself and the sport of boxing," he wrote in a statement posted on Twitter and Instagram.
"Dear Patrick Day, I never meant for this to happen to you. All I ever wanted to do was win. If I could take it all back I would no one deserves for this to happen to them. I replay the fight over and over in my head thinking what if this never happened and why did it happen to you. I can't stop thinking about it myself I prayed for you so many times and shedded so many tears because I couldn't even imagine how my family and friends would feel. I see you everywhere I go and all I hear is wonderful things about you," he continued.
Conwell also revealed he mulled over quitting boxing after the incident, but then changed his mind. "I thought about quitting boxing but I know that's not what you would want," he explained. "I know that you were a fighter at heart so I decided not to but to fight and win a world title because that's what you wanted and thats what I want so I'll use you as motivation every day and make sure I always leave it all in the ring every time. #ChampPatrickDay With Compassion, Charles Conwell."
