Boxers that Died in the Ring???

NECK DISLOCATION KILLED M'CARTY; Coroner Costello Gives Out That Information as Result of Autopsy.


CALGARY, Alberta, May 25. -- A dislocation of the neck caused the death yesterday of Luther McCarty in his fight with Arthur Pelkey, according to information given out to-night following an autopsy conducted by Dr. F. Moshier at the request of Coroner Costello.

The bout began and never went beyond the end of the first round. When a light punch landed just above McCarty’s heart, he collapsed. As the referee, Ed Smith, began counting him out, he quickly realized that something seemed terribly wrong. Immediately, he summoned medical support on standby. After eight minutes, McCarty was declared dead. Pelkey was just as bemused and concerned about McCarty’s fate as anyone. A coroner’s report later determined that the cause of death was likely an accident that McCarty suffered in a horse riding incident sometime prior to the fight taking place.


Then came the bout with Arthur Pelkey at Calgary, Alberta, Canada on May 24, 1913 for the "White Heavyweight Championship." Following an apparent light blow to the head by Pelkey, McCarty collapsed and died at ringside a few minutes later. A coroner's jury decided that no blow had been responsible for McCarty's collapse, but that death was due to a hemorrhage of the brain, probably caused by a previous injury.

Lardner (1951 p 37), reported, "In a clinch in the first round, Pelkey cuffed McCarty lightly on the side of the head and his left hand. McCarty fell to the floor. He died eight minutes later, of a brain hemorrhage."

Wallace (1996 p 4) wrote, "In the first round of the fight, Pelkey delivered a sharp left to the jaw, snapping Luther's neck back. A straight right to the chest dropped the champ. McCarty was dead soon after he hit the canvas. A subsequent coroner's inquest found that the first punch had broken his fourth cervical vertebra, causing a fatal hemorrhage. Arthur Pelkey was charged with manslaughter. Four days later, a coroner's jury cleared him of the charge."

 

BOXING : BOXERS DYING OR LEFT SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER FIGHTS

Approximately 500 boxers have died in the ring or as a result of boxing since the Marquis of Queensberry Rules were introduced in 1884. Some of the worst incidents since the Second World War include:

1947: Jimmy Doyle died of brain injuries 17 hours after being knocked out by Sugar Ray Robinson in a world welterweight title fight. Fifteen months earlier, Doyle had suffered severe concussion in a contest with Artie Levine.

1953: The Ring Annual reported that 22 boxers had died as a result of injuries sustained during the year. This remains the highest figure since records were kept.

1962: Benny Paret died of brain injuries after losing to Emile Griffith in a world welterweight title fight.

1963: Davey Moore died after collapsing in his dressing-room after he was beaten by Ultiminio Ramos for the world featherweight title.

1964: Lyn James, from Pontypridd, died in hospital from a brain injury - the decade's first fatality in British boxing.

1969: Four days after a points defeat by Joe Bugner, Ulrich Regis died after surgery to remove a clot from his brain.

1972: Mick Pinkney choked on his own blood after a fifth-round knock- out by Jim Moore in Leeds. The inquest report said there was no sign of where the blood had come from.

1978: Angelo Jacopucci collapsed and died after fighting Alan Minter for the European middleweight title. European title fights were shortened to 12 rounds as a result.

1979: Willie Claasen died after he lost to Wilfred Scypion in New York. A few weeks earlier he had been knocked out in two rounds by British champion Tony Sibson.

1980: Lupe Pintor of Mexico beat the Welshman Johnny Owen for the WBC bantamweight title. Owen died six weeks later, having never regained consciousness.

1982: Young Ali (Asymin Mustapha) collapsed on the way out of the ring after being knocked out by Barry McGuigan in London. He lay in a coma for several months and died in December.

1982: Duk-koo Kim was carried from the ring in a coma after he was beaten by Ray Mancini for the WBA lightweight title. He died four days after the contest. Subsequently, world championship bouts were cut from 15 to 12 rounds.

1983: Kiko Bejines died of brain injuries after a defeat by Albert Davila for the WBC bantamweight title.

1985: Shawn Thomas died of head injuries suffered in a lightweight fight against Chris Calvin.

1985: Gerardo Derbez died of brain damage after being in a coma since being knocked out by Jorge Vaca.

1985: Jacob Morake died from head injuries received when he was knocked out by Brian Mitchell.

1986: The Scottish-born Steve Watt died of brain injuries after a defeat by Rocky Kelly in Fulham.

1987: Jean-Claude Vinci died half-an-hour after he was beaten on points by Lionel Jean.

1988: Daniel Thetele collapsed and died after losing to Aaron Williams.

1988: Brian Baronet, was in a coma for three days before dying after being knocked out by Kenny Vice.

1989: David Thio died 10 days after being knocked out by Terrence Ali.

1989: Rod Douglas, stopped by Herol Graham in a British middleweight title fight, underwent brain surgery to remove a clot.

1990: Patrick Stone died of a brain injury the day after beating Gary Wills.

1991: Michael Watson spent 38 days in a coma after being stopped by Chris Eubank. He is confined to a wheelchair.

1991: Clive Skwebe died nine days after being knocked out by Ndoda Mayenda.

1991: Patrick Diniso died after being knocked unconscious during a featherweight bout.

1991: Minoru Katsumata died after a 10th-round stoppage by Takashi Hurata.

1993: Yasuji Hamakawa died after being knocked down twice in one round.

1994: Wangila Napunyi collapsed after being stopped by David Gonzalez. He died after an operation to remove a blood clot from his brain.

1994: British bantamweight Bradley Stone died from a massive blood clot on the brain after losing to Richie Wenton.

1994: Michael Bentt was rushed to hospital and had to retire after his WBO heavyweight title defeat against Herbie Hide in London.

 

I did a video search on boxing death, and they were a horror to watch. Some matches should have been stopped, and sometimes it just happened out of the blue with no warning. I didn't think I should post the youtube page link. It's quite morbid!

 

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