No change in boxer's condition
2007-12-26 14:45
Seoul - South Korean boxer Choi Yo Sam is in a coma fighting for his life on Wednesday in a Seoul hospital after winning a world title bout.
News reports said it remained unclear whether the 33-year-old Choi will survive despite brain surgery carried out.
Choi collapsed and fell into a coma immediately after retaining his World Boxing Organization flyweight world title, on points against Heri Amol of Indonesia on Tuesday night.
Amol floored Choi shortly before the end of the 12th and final round of the bout. Choi originally got up to complete the fight, but then fell unconscious on returning to his side of the ring.
He was stretchered out of the ring and rushed to hospital for surgery on a cerebral hemorrhage. Choi remained in a coma on Wednesday and doctors were quoted as giving vague forecasts.
"Right now, we are relying on drugs to relieve intra-cranial pressure and stop the bleeding, but we can't say he is in any better condition that he was yesterday. It will take at least a week to tell whether he will ever regain consciousness," said Dr Park Hyeong Ki.
South Korean boxer Kim Duk-Koo slipped into a coma and died from injuries sustained during a match against US champion Ray Mancini in Las Vegas in 1982.
His death led to reforms in boxing, including the end of 15-round bouts and health checks before and after fights.
- SAPA