THIS IS the horrifying moment that an amateur boxer was fatally floored with a punch to the chin after his family had allegedly pleaded with him “not to take part” in the fight.
Joao Victor Penha, 23, has passed away in hospital three days after suffering the devastating blow in Brazil for a fight worth just £16 to the winner.
A range of reports state that he appeared to be on the front foot for most of the bout, which was filmed by an onlooker and had a boxing referee plus safety mats on the ground.
However, around 90 seconds into it, he was knocked out cold when his rival landed a straight punch to the chin that sent him tumbling backwards.
He was quickly tended to by first-aiders in Jijoca de Jericoacoara, north-eastern Brazil, and then regained consciousness.
But his condition reportedly quickly worsened as he was rushed to an emergency care unit a short while after the fight’s finish.
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Local media have claimed that the brutal punch left him with cranioencephalic trauma.
The following day after the blow, on October 8, he was transferred in critical condition to a hospital in nearby Sobral.
Now they have announced that he sadly passed away on Tuesday 10 October.
A hospital statement read: “After conducting examinations, the patient was declared brain dead, which also led to a cardiac arrest.”
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Away from his aspiring boxing ambitions, Joao Victor was employed as an HR manager at a hotel on the coast and lived in Jijoca de Jericoacoara with his family.
His funeral took place last Thursday as his sister, Lilia Maria da Penha, told local media: “These fights are an absolute absurdity. I don’t even know what to say, especially after the tragedy with my brother.
“We didn’t want him to participate. We were all very concerned; my mother asked him not to participate, sensing that something more serious could happen.
“We talked to him, but he asked for our support, and then we had no choice.
“The winner of the fight would get BRL 100 (GBP £16), and the loser would receive BRL 50 (GBP £8). My brother’s life was lost over this amount, unfortunately.”
Local police are said to be investigating the case.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
