Junior welterweight boxer Maxim Dadashev has passed away due to injuries suffered in an 11th-round knockout loss to Subriel Matias on Friday, July 19. Following the bout, Dadashev was transported to the hospital near MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland after collapsing outside of the ring before he ultimately passed away.
News of Dadashev’s death comes shortly after a troubling and heartbreaking video made the rounds online that showed Dadashev’s corner asking to stop the fight, but he was begging to continue.
“It just makes you realize what type of sport we’re in, man,” Buddy McGirt said while confirming Dadashev’s death to ESPN. “He did everything right in training, no problems, no nothing. My mind is like really running crazy, right now. Like what could I have done differently? But at the end of the day, everything was fine (in training).
“Great, great guy. He was a trainers dream. If I had two more guys like him, I wouldn’t need anybody else because he was truly dedicated to the sport.”
McGirkt can be heard pleading before ultimately signaling the doctors to stop the fight: “I’m going to stop it, Max. Max, you’re getting hit too much. Please, Max, please. Let me do this. OK? OK? Look at me. Please, If I don’t, the referee’s gonna do it. C’mon, Max. Please.
After collapsing, Dadashev was placed in a medically induced coma before his death on Tuesday.
Dadashev was just 28 years old and had a 13-1 record with 11 knockouts while fighting under the Top Rank banner. His wife found out about his passing while flying from Russia in an effort to be by his side. Dadashev was managed by Egis Klimas who also represents the likes of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Sergey Kovalev
Our deepest condolences go out to Dadashev’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult and tragic time.