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A 21-year-old boxer named Mark Ian Villaflor was urgently taken to the hospital in Lebak after receiving a blow to a sensitive part of his body during a boxing match. According to Jessa Villaflor, Mark’s sister, he lost consciousness due to the impact during the second round. Initially, he was admitted to Sultan Kudarat District Hospital and later transferred to Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City. A medical examination revealed that Mark had suffered a mild brain injury, resulting in limited mobility throughout his body.

Mark suffered the injury when he tried to go for the overhand punch and left himself wide open. However, his opponent dodged the attempt and took the chance to throw a body shot. Unfortunately, the punch landed in the wrong place, injuring Mark. It is worth noting that the boxers involved in the match were not equipped with protective gear. The game’s management is reportedly assisting with Mark’s treatment, and he is scheduled to undergo a follow-up check-up at CRMC today.

Mark turned to boxing as a means to escape poverty and had hoped to win 500 pesos through the sport. The situation serves as a reminder of the risks associated with boxing and highlights the importance of protective measures to safeguard the well-being of athletes. This reminds us how dangerous boxing can be, one cannot help but remember bouts such as Emile Griffith vs Benny Paret which leave a mark even after decades. The video of the match was uploaded on Facebook by 91.3 Brigada News FM Lebak. Fans were heartbroken to know about the damage the young guy received for a pitiful amount of 500 pesos.

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Heartbreaking fate: Fans mourn young boxer’s tragic incident

The incident has sparked an outpouring of emotions from concerned fans who witnessed the alarming scene unfold. One fan named Michael Domingo emphasized the importance of protecting the fighters by insisting on the mandatory use of headgear. He wrote, “The boxers must have head gear”. Moreover, Domingo expressed his disbelief at the absence of such safety measures in the bout, highlighting the discrepancy between his gym’s practices and the unfortunate incident.

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Another fan named Mark Mendoza Vicelles echoed Domingo’s sentiment. He expressed his hope that boxers would utilize headgear and other protective equipment to prevent accidents of this nature from occurring in the future. Meanwhile, Rene Trinidad Demapitan wrote, “I think my brother is against him”.

One fan named Echo Espartero shared their distress over the young boxer’s unfortunate fate. Espartero expressed deep sympathy and wrote, ”This is what happened to him 😭😭😭 so pitiful.” Another fan named Rhed Lovers pointed out the striking disparity between the risk undertaken by the boxers and the relatively low financial reward. They shared their surprise writing, “The prize is 500 pesos only man.”

Read More: Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko: Judges Scorecard Round-By-Round, Final Results

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The fans’ collective response to this distressing incident highlights the urgent need for increased safety measures in boxing. What do you think about the situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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