Boxer Patrick Day (above right) died Wednesday from head injuries sustained during a match over the weekend. He was 27.
Day was box against Charles Conwell during the Super-Welterweight bout Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. He was knocked unconscious during the tenth round and carried out of the ring on a stretcher. The New York-native later slipped into a coma after undergoing brain surgery but never woke up. The fight was streamed on DAZN, an on-demand sports streaming service.
Promoter Lou DiBella confirmed Day’s passing via an online statement.
“He was surrounded by his family, close friends and members of his boxing team, including his mentor, friend and trainer Joe Higgins,” the statement read. “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.”
The statement added that Day’s death was a “call to action” to make the sport safer.
“It becomes very difficult to explain away or justify the dangers of boxing at a time like this. This is not a time where edicts or pronouncements are appropriate, or the answers are readily available. It is, however, a time for a call to action. 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.”
As an amateur, Day won two Nationals titles, the New York Golden Gloves tournament and was an Olympic Team alternate, all in 2012. He turned pro in 2013, capturing the WBC Continental Americas championship in 2017 and the IBF Intercontinental championship in 2019. In June 2019, he was rated in the top-10 by both the WBC and IBF.
Charles Conwell — Day’s opponent — posted an emotional tribute to Day on Instagram.
“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,” he wrote. “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.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nbousgd6P/
The World Boxing Council posted a statement expressing deep regret over Day’s passing and tweeted, “Patrick Day was always kind, happy and an exceptional good man who was outstandingly passionate about boxing.”
Rest In Peace.
Patrick Day was always kind, happy and an exceptional good man who was outstandingly passionate about boxing. We will always remember you for all of that. pic.twitter.com/v506g26nmX
— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) October 16, 2019