Another boxer in a coma

Another boxer in a coma

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Another Indonesian boxer is fighting for his life, with Dian
Hasibuan reported on Wednesday to be in a coma after suffering a
technical knockout defeat in a televised nontitle bout the night
before.

The fight on Tuesday between featherweights Dian and Jack Riu
was stopped by the referee in the fourth of six scheduled rounds
after Dian received a vicious blow to the head and was unable to
continue. The fight was held at the RCTI studio.

"Dian then collapsed and began vomiting. He later fell into a
coma," Indonesian Boxing Committee (KTI) ring doctor Tommy
Halauwet told The Jakarta Post.

The 19-year-old Dian was immediately taken to the nearby Graha
Medika Hospital.

Indonesian professional boxing has been tarnished over the
last several years by a high number of ring deaths.

Nine boxers have died over the last four years, including two,
Antonius Moses and Jack Ryan, within a month of each other this
January and February.

Tommy said that Dian, from the Texmaco Bulungan boxing camp,
had suffered a brain hemorrhage, or a subdural hematoma. He said
no surgical procedures had been performed on the boxer.

"However, the team of doctors (treating Dian) told me that his
condition was improving. He has begun to show signs of
consciousness.

"The surgeons are the ones who have to decide whether or not
he needs surgery," he said.

Tommy said the fight on Tuesday was quite vicious, and claimed
that at the end of the third round he signaled to the ring
inspector and the trainers for the fight to be stopped,
ironically because Jack Riu was taking a lot of punches and
appeared unable to defend himself.

However, in the fourth round Jack came out and landed one, but
punishing, heavy blow to the head of Dian, which sent him
sprawling to the canvas.

Dian regained his feet before the count of 10 but he was
unsteady and clearly unable to continue. The referee stopped the
fight and declared Jack the winner by TKO.