A hospital spokesman told Boxing Junkie on Sunday that super-middleweight rival Aidos Yerbossynuly remains in a critical, but stable condition after he was placed in a medically induced coma.
The spokesman was not authorized to say whether the Kazakh boxer was still in a coma.
Yerbossynuly, 30, was knocked out by David Morrell in the 12th and final round on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis, after which he was transported to the nearby Hennepin County Medical Center for an evaluation.
The US-based Kazakh has been placed in a coma, minimizing swelling following a traumatic brain injury.
TGB Promotion and Premier Boxing Champions released a joint statement. It read: “Representatives from TGB Promotion and PBC are in Minneapolis with Aidos’ team and we are monitoring the situation closely. Out of respect for his and his family’s privacy, we cannot share any details but we ask that the boxing community keep him in their thoughts and prayers.”
Morrell, the top 168-pounder, beat his tough but dominant opponent before knocking him out 26 seconds before the final bell rang.
Yerbossynuly (16-1, 11 KOs) was so badly injured that referees Tony Weeks and Morrell (8-0.7 KOs) had to help him into the corner.
Morrell’s trainer, Ronnie Shields, said shortly after the fight – and before the extent of his injuries were known – that the fight was allowed to go on for too long.
“That war should have been stopped sooner,” Shields said BoxingScene.com. “They let this kid suffer too much punishment. But even the referee, and Tony Weeks is a really good referee, but sometimes you have to go to the corner and say, ‘Hey man, everyone needs to stop this.’ And that’s when [Yerbossynuly] started to fight dirty, because he didn’t want to be taken down. “
Shields continued: “It’s all about pride. I commend the guy who took all that punishment, but you have to save the boys from themselves. He took too many punches. And you know what? This child may never be able to fight again. How bad is that.”
