Hugo Santill?n competed in his last bout at Club Atl?tico, San Nicol?s and immediately began another fight for his life. Santill?n, just 23 years old, died this morning after clinging on for five days. Fighting a ten-round split decision against Eduardo Abreu, Santill?n passed out when awaiting the verdict. Not that it holds any significance now, but the fight ended in a draw.
Doctors were called to the aid of Santill?n and it was clear he was in real trouble. It seemed to take an age to administer oxygen to the stricken super-lightweight. ?Dinamita? was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery for a brain clot. Two cardiac arrests followed before the tragic news nobody wanted to hear broke on Thursday. Father Hugo, also a boxer, guided his son to 19 wins as a professional until his life was cut short in the most devastating way. The death of Santill?n comes just days after Maxim Dadashev, 28, was lost in a similar way following his ESPN fight on Friday night. There have now been at least two boxing tragedies per year since 2017. Before that, there had been six deaths in the previous seven years.
