Update on Oscar Diaz: "It's not good," says Duva associate

by Scott Christ on Jul 17, 2008 4:41 AM EDT

Welterweight Oscar Diaz, who collapsed in his corner after the 10th round of a TKO loss to Delvin Rodriguez on Wednesday night and was rushed to University Medical Center in San Antonio in critical condition, was being taken into surgery to relieve swelling on his brain early Thursday.

"He's got swelling and bleeding on the brain, he's unconscious and on a ventilator," Ron Katz of Rodriguez promoter Star Boxing told ESPN.com.>

Katz said Donna Duva Brooks of Hall of Fame Promotions, Diaz's promoter, was at the hospital with Diaz. Katz said she told him that Diaz was being taken into surgery.

"It's not good. Obviously, he's in all of our prayers," Katz said.

I can't get over watching the final moments of the fight, as the referee warned Diaz's corner that they could be putting their man at risk, followed by that pained shriek that came from Diaz before his legs betrayed him as he attempted to continue on.

None of this sounds good at all. Here's sending more good wishes to Mr. Diaz, and hoping for the best.

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No, it’s definitely not good. I just posted an update on my site. As far as I know, this morning, he had urgent surgery due to severe bleeding on the brain. I don’t know any further though.

by boxedear.blogspot.com on Jul 17, 2008 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

am i a horrible person for asking if anyone has video of the fight?? Im not looking for a snuff film, mainly just want to see his condition in the corner and the exchange between the referee and his peoples

by dt3 on Jul 17, 2008 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

I don't have a video, but here's what I saw on TV

The referee asked Diaz, “How many fingers am I holding up?.” If Diaz responded, the ESPN audio was unable to pick it up, but the corner men seemed to insist Diaz had answered the question. The ref then asked Diaz something to the effect of “are you all right?”, a second later Diaz let out a groan and immediately lost balance and the fight was stopped and the doctors were let into the ring.

At no time during this sequence did Diaz seem remotely responsive.

It’s nice to see that at least the referee, if no one else, was proactive enough to check on Diaz and stop the fight.

I would like to add that while Diaz was certainly slowing down in the later rounds and was consistently being hit by Rodriguez by very clean head shots, at no time did Diaz seem rocked nor did Rodriguez really go in with a significant flurry to go for the KO, so there really was no obvious moment during the action that the referee should have been compelled to stop the fight.

by bailorg on Jul 17, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

yep

It’s just one of those things that happens, sadly. I never thought he looked too banged up or too off balance or anything. The referee had to have noticed something awry, but he was right there. From a TV standpoint, I knew he was getting hit plenty, but wouldn’t have guessed he was about to go out on a stretcher.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

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by Scott Christ on Jul 17, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

All my prayers are with Oscar, a true warrior.

He was getting beat up pretty good, but nothing seemed like it was hurting him to the point of this happening. I have seen worse and it seemed like he was still coming forward in the waning moments of round 10.

After I watched him taken out on a stretcher, his face battered, his eye shut, not breathing, I wondered how I could turn over to FSN and watch two over-the-hill overweight overpaid 6 loss fighters. I finally watched it two hours later only to see them dance around for 3 rounds before Hasim Rahman quit because of a tiny gash above the eyebrow.

All the money that anyone made from that fight should be gathered up and given to Oscar Diaz.

by BabyBull1289 on Jul 17, 2008 4:59 PM EDT reply actions