Australian boxer Browne Jr. dies after fight vs Filipino

Screengrab from Aus-boxing Twitter account.

SYDNEY — Australian boxer Davey Browne Jr. has died of injuries suffered in Friday’s IBF super-featherweight regional title bout against Filipino Carlo Magali.

Browne, a 28-year-old father of two, was knocked out 30 seconds from the end of the final round of the 12-round bout. He regained consciousness but later collapsed and was rushed to Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital in critical condition, suffering from a brain injury.

Police confirmed Davey’s death on Monday and said a post-mortem would be conducted.

“It’s 30-odd years since we’ve had a fatality or a serious injury,” Australian Boxing Federation president John McDougall said. “It’s tragic, tragic news.

“We did hear that he’d recommenced breathing on his own, and we were hoping and praying that that was a good sign, but this morning’s news is shattering.”

Browne’s passing is the second boxing related death in Australia in the last six months.

In March, Brayd Smith passed away due to head injuries he suffered in a boxing match against Filipino John Moralde.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called for a ban of the contact sport due to the rising number of deaths.

“I know they don’t intend for this to happen but… the way that boxing is designed, there will be these times inevitably where someone will get bleeding or irreversible damage to the brain and they will either lose their life or end up with brain damage,” AMA vice president Stephen Parnis said an interview with broadcaster ABC.

“That is why the AMA thinks that we cannot continue with it.”