Junior welterweight Maxim Dadashev, 28, died Tuesday (July 23) morning after suffering brain injuries during his Friday night fight against Subriel Matias at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Matias dominated the fight and his trainer Buddy McGirt loudly told Dadashev, "I'm going to stop it, Max. Max, you're getting hit too much."
McGirt spoke on his passing, telling ESPN, "It just makes you realize what type of sport we're in, man. 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]. He seemed OK, he was ready, but it's the sport that we're in. It just takes one punch, man."
Dadashev's widow, Elizaveta Apushkina, also released a statement, which read, "It is with great sadness that I confirm the passing of my husband, Maxim Dadashev. He was a very kind person who fought until the very end. Our son will continue be raised to be a great man like his father. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone that cared for Maxim during his final days. I ask that everyone please respect our privacy during this very difficult time."
Source: ESPN
