Top boxer suffers severe brain injury in punishing bout
After undergoing surgery for a brain hemorrhage, Canadian cruiserweight boxer, David Whittom is in stable condition. His surgery took place a few hours after he lost a weekend boxing match in Fredericton.
According to his stepbrother, the pro boxer underwent a two-hour surgery which was done in order to heal his brain, which was swollen. The doctors at Saint John Regional Hospital removed a portion of his skull on Sunday Morning in order to do so.
“He’s considered in stable condition but he suffered a traumatic brain injury,” said Eric Moffatt. “We’re not sure how that is going to play out at this point.”
Whittom remained in the Intensive Care Unit on Monday. He was heavily sedated and required a respirator for breathing. The boxer, who lives in Quebec City, was raised in Fredericton. Moffatt informed us that the doctors have scheduled a CT scan for Tuesday.
“It’s one of those things where we expect the worst and hope for the best,” he said. “The brain has to decide how it’s going to heal…it’s going to be a long process.”
WHAT HAPPENED ON FIGHT NIGHT
The fight was between Gary Kopas of Saskatoon and Whittom. The boxers were up against each other for the Canadian Professional Boxing Council cruiserweight championship. Whittom, 38, lost in the 10th round of the fight.
“It was a war,” said Brandon Brewer, who was the organizer of the event. “It was a good fight back and forth.” The medics checked Whittom after he finished the fight, and after the check up he sat with his family at ringside to watch the next fight.
“In the ring, the doctor was there,” said Whittom’s trainer, Fraçois Duguay. “He didn’t respond very well to all the questions, like the date, which year we are, where we are right now, who’s that guy beside you?” But Whittom started recognizing people and knew where he was after seven to eight minutes, Duguay said.
“We went back to the dressing room and he was talking normally,” he said. “He went in the shower and he was yelling in the shower that the water was too cold.”
Whittom left the Aitken Centre with Moffatt, shortly after midnight. Moffatt dropped him off at his mother’s house but had to return quickly as Whittom said he wasn’t feeling well. “He was complaining of a headache … he was starting to feel like he was overheating,” he said.
Whittom was advised to go to the hospital by his coaches, when he was on the verge of throwing up. A CT scan was done at Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, which revealed the hemorrhage.
“The family is looking for thoughts and prayers for David’s hopeful recovery from this,” said Moffatt.
When Gary Kopas realized that Whittom was in bad shape, he asked the referee if he should continue the fight but since the referee told him to keep boxing, he threw a few more punches to Whittom’s head. This was in the 10th round after which the referee jumped in. He told CBC News on Monday that after reflecting on the events that took place, he felt bad that the fight didn’t stop.
“I was mad but at the same time I was obviously pumped,” he said. “I wanted to win there, but at the same time, I didn’t want to hit him again either.”
Whittom’s love for boxing
Determined to win the title fight on Saturday night, Whittom had been training hard for the past 26 months. Duguay said that this was his last fight.
“We were winning that fight,” said Duguay. “It’s not for money, it’s passion.”
Whittom started his career as a teenager, with wins in seven of his first nine fights. His fights have been with a number of notable fighters and the list includes the current World Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis Stevenson of Montreal and Quebec-based contender Eleider Alvarez.
Whittom has an overall record of 12-24-1, with eight knockouts, but he has lost 18 out of his last 20 bouts. “David found his passion in boxing,” Mofatt said. “He was able to find a positive outlet in boxing, and that’s why the boxing community has really reached out.” Everyone across Eastern Canada is rooting for Whittom’s full recovery, said Brewer. “He’s a tough cookie.”