Adonis Stevenson, former WBC light heavyweight world champion suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in the TKO loss to Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Canada. Stevenson, 41 years of age, remains in stable but critical condition following emergency brain surgery.
“Mr. Stevenson underwent surgery on the night of Saturday to Sunday and has since been admitted to the intensive care unit,” said Dr. Alexis Turgeon, an intensive care specialist an anesthesiologist who is treating Stevenson. “He suffers from severe traumatic brain injury. His situation is still stable under the circumstances, but critical.”
Stevenson was rushed to Enfant-Jesus Hospital in Quebec City after the knockout.
According to Dr. Turgeon, Stevenson’s condition requires deep sedation, mechanical respiratory assistance and neurological monitoring.
“It is still too early to comment on Mr. Stevenson’s long-term prognosis,” Dr. Turgeon said, urging the media to avoid distributing medical information that does not come from an official source.
The precise nature of Stevenson’s condition was not announced.
Stevenson’s condition represents a growing but troubling trend. Traumatic brain injuries are on the rise, increasing nearly 50% between 2007 and 2013, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the fight, Gvozdyk landed eight punches, including two crushing rights and a left hand that hurt Stevenson badly. The blow sent Stevenson down and slumped against a corner post in the ring. He attempted to get onto all fours, but fell onto the run apron between the bottom two ropes. Referee Michael Griffin called off the fight at 2 minutes, 49 seconds.
Stevenson lost consciousness in the ambulance on his way to the hospital.
Gvozdyk, 31 years of age, is a Ukranian bronze medalist who fights out of Oxnard, California. Stevenson held his title for 5-1/2 years and was the longest reigning active titleholder in boxing.
Stevenson’s injury brings to light the brutality of boxing, and has some in the media calling for a ban of the sport. But rather than banning the sport, many argue that steps can be taken to protect fighters from injuries like those suffered by Stevenson and many others.
Little information has been released on Stevenson’s condition since the surgery, but his wife took to Twitter to post one simple message: “Praying for a miracle.” The couple welcomed their first child just over a month ago.
“It is impossible today to know the real state of the situation,” said Dave Ellemberg, neuropsychologist and professor at the University of Montreal, said in an interview with LCN. “Physicians will be able to assess his condition only when he is awake.”
Stevenson has been in an artificial coma for just over a week, but in cases of traumatic brain injury, it’s not uncommon for doctors to wait one to two weeks before attempting to wake the patient.
