Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Boxer had been hospitalized since Saturday night bout
By STEVE WILAJ
YOUNGSTOWN
Hamzah Ajahmi, the boxer injured during Saturday night’s pro-am fight card at St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orhtodox Banquet Center, died on Tuesday. Jack Loew, the show’s promoter, informed The Vindicator via a text message late Tuesday.
Ajahmi, a Detroit native, underwent brain surgery after Saturday night’s fight against Anthony Taylor of Warren. He had been in the surgical intensive care unit at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.
Bernie Profato, executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission, was in attendance for Saturday’s fight card. He said Tuesday evening that “all the safety issues that we could have put forth were put forth.”
“These things with head injuries are unpredictable,” Profato said. “This kid was a strong fighter. It’s very unfortunate. Our thoughts are with his family. Nobody wants anything like this to happen. But it’s an unavoidable circumstance that you can’t predict.”
Ajahmi lost a majority decision at 114 pounds. It was his, as well as Taylor’s, professional debut as part of the event organized by Loew.
Ajahmi suffered three knockdowns in the first round, but recovered to win the second and third rounds. At the end of fourth and final round, he fell to the canvas on his knees — without being hit — as the bell went off. He was then carried out of the ring by paramedics.
“He was in his corner [after the first round] and apparently his corner people felt he was OK,” said Profato, who has been OAC commissioner since 2004. “He walked back to his corner, but didn’t stagger or anything. Then he came out and pretty much dominated the second round. He won the second round on all the judges cards and won the third round on all the judges cards.”
As for what transpired in the fourth round, this is how Profato described it.
“Near the end of the round, he kind of stumbled back to the ropes,” he said. “He wasn’t hit or anything — it was like he lost his balance. He got off the ropes and he went to walk forward and he fell down. The referee immediately ruled it was a slip. I thought maybe he popped a knee.”
Profato dismissed any notion that the fight should have been stopped after the three first-round knockdowns.
“I don’t believe there’s any referee that I know of that would have stopped that fight in the first round,” he said. “After that first round, he was on his toes, he was bouncing, he was throwing jabs and counterpunches.
“Is it upsetting? Absolutely. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the safety and well-being of people who participate in combat sports.
“The contract when they sign up states that this is a dangerous sport and that they can suffer serious consequences — injury or even death. This kid was making his pro debut, as was the other fighter, so there was no mismatch.”