VIDEO: 23 Year Old Boxer Dies After Suffering a Brutal Knockout on a Basketball Court

Dreams often clash with dark realities in the world of amateur boxing. The sport was again struck with a tragedy when a promising boxer, Joao Victor Penha, lost his life, followed by a devastating blow during a boxing bout.

The heart-wrenching incident took place in Jijoca de Jericoacoara in Brazil, claiming the life of the 23-year-old budding boxer. As the tragedy raised concerns about the safety measures adhered to in the sport, let us find out more about the incident.  

Participating in boxing feats leads to fatal outcome

The tragedy struck just 90 seconds into the match when Victor Penha received a massive blow on his face that left him unconscious. He fought the battle of life for a stretch of three days but failed to overcome the fatality.

Surviving the punch, even though the medical team provided on-site backup, gradually, the boxer started deteriorating and had to be shifted to the nearby hospital. Based on the insights provided by The Sun, following the tragedy, Victor Penha’s sister, Lilia Maria de Penha shared her views with the local media stating, “These fights are an absolute absurdity. I don’t even know what to say, especially after the tragedy with my brother.”

Besides his boxing career, Victor Penha worked at a hotel as an HR manager. However, he risked his life in the basketball court turned boxing ring for a scanty fortune revealing his passion for the sport. 

Putting life at stake for a meager amount 

After being transported to the hospital, all the efforts turned out to be futile when Victor Penha lost his life to cardiac arrest followed by brain death. Undergoing cranioencephalic trauma was the main cause of his death. Most surprisingly, the boxing match in which the budding boxer participated had a negligible amount set as the prize money.  

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His sister enlightened everyone with the facts, saying, “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.” The winning amount serves as a stark reminder exposing the harsh reality athletes are subjected to. 

The untimely death of Victor Penha has raised various questions regarding the safety protocols maintained during the game. In order to find the answers, the Brazilian authorities have initiated an investigation procedure to find out the cause that led to the tragic outcome. 

In pursuit of his boxing dreams, Victor Penha had to sacrifice his life in the face of adversity. As the boxing community mourns the loss of the young athlete, his death has drawn attention to the insufficient safety measures and the need for better compensation for amateur boxers.

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