Boxer Hugo Alfredo Santillan Dies After Injuries Sustained in Match

Barely a few days after Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died after a brutal bout, another life has been claimed in the ring. Argentine boxer Hugo Alfredo Santillan died on Thursday in Buenos Aires after suffering injuries against Uruguayan fighter Eduardo Javier Abreu. The late Santillan was 23-years old at the time of his passing.

Dr. Graciela Olocco, hailing from Hospital Agudos San Felipe confirmed the tragic new to media outlets. As it turned out, after the bout, Hugo Alfredo Santillan underwent surgery for a brain clot and went into cardiorespiratory failure twice. Sadly, he kicked the bucket when he died of cardiac arrest, according to Dr Olocco.

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev passed away after suffering a similar brain injury during his own fight. The 28-year old was pitted against Subriel Matias of Puerto Rico when he was brutally pummelled.

Hugo Alfredo Santillan was a super lightweight who made his pro debut in 2015. He was an excellent boxer as eight of his 19 victories were claimed by a knockout. He was the son of fighter Hugo Alfredo Santillan Sr. He also hailed from the same region, Santa Fe, as compatriot, Marcos Rene “Chino” Maidana.

According to ringside reports, Santillan’s nose began to bleed in the fourth round, which was the start of things to come. Even though he raised his arm in victory after the fight, he passed out as the judges were announcing the draw. He had scored 95-95, 93-97 and 96-94 against Abreu.

“Upon admission to the hospital, he had successive kidney failure and he did not come out of his coma,” Olocco said. “He had swelling of his brain and he never recovered consciousness. The swelling continued to worsen, and it affected the functioning of the rest of his organs.”

Santillan was nicknamed ‘Dinamata’, and unlike Dadashev, he had won his fight before collapsing.

Santillan possessed a professional record of 19-6-2 with 8 KOs. His father, also named Hugo Alfredo Santillan, was also a professional boxer. Upon news of Santillan’s death, condolences started coming in. “PBC sends its condolences to Hugo Alfredo Santillan’s family and friends as the Argentine boxer passed away today from injuries he sustained on Saturday night,” Premiere Boxing Champions tweeted.

“RIP Hugo Santillan,” tweeted the World Boxing Council. “He passed away from injuries suffered during Saturday’s fight which ended in a draw. We join Hugo’s family and friends in grief, support and wish prompt resignation.”

Having two deaths within a week is bound to have a profound impact on any sport. This is especially true in the case of boxing, a sport which has perpetually come under fire. Boxing was a sport where a number of participants emerge from poverty, and where corruption and incompetence have been rampant.

Yet all the debates on earth can’t take away the tragedies the families of Santillan and Dadashev are enduring at the moment. For those closest to the fighters, the losses will be lifelong struggles. Hopefully, both men live on in the memories of fans of the sport they dedicated their lives.