Boxer From Long Island Dies After Suffering Traumatic Brain Injuries, Being Knocked Out In The Ring
CHICAGO (CBSNewYork/AP) — A boxer from New York with a promising career has died, four days after sustaining severe head injuries during a professional match in Chicago.
Promoter Lou DiBella said Patrick Day died Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He was 27.
"He was surrounded by his family, close friends and members of his boxing team, including his mentor, friend and trainer Joe Higgins," DiBella said in a statement on his website. "He was a son, brother, and good friend to many. Pat's kindness, positivity, and generosity of spirit made a lasting impression with everyone he met."
Day had brain surgery after being knocked out in the 10th round Saturday night at Wintrust Arena in a fight with boxer Charles Conwell. Knocked down twice earlier in the bout, the junior middleweight was taken from the ring on a stretcher.
Two days after the fight, Conwell posted a heartfelt message to Day on social media.
"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," Conwell wrote on Instagram. "I replay the fight over and over in my head thinking what if this never happened and why did it happen to you."
From Freeport, New York, Day had a career record of 17-4-1 with six knockouts. As an amateur, he won two Nationals titles, the New York Golden Gloves tournament and was a U.S. Olympic team alternate in 2012.
According to CBS Sports, Day was a fixture in the greater New York boxing community and earned an Associate's Degree in food and nutrition from Nassau Community College.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
