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.