By Ronnie Nathanielsz
A 14 year old boy has died after being knocked out in a boxing event at a barangay fiesta celebration in San Isidro, Davao del Norte.
Johnny Amar was knocked out in the 2nd round and was rushed to the Kapalong District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
ABS-CBN news reported that Amar’s mother Emalyn, who was distraught over her son’s ring death, said the boy idolized “Fighter of the Decade” and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
The barangay (village) chairman Herminio Cirtilo said the fights were held according to accepted rules and regulations covering the sport and the municipal council had approved the staging of the event to help discover talent and keep young boys off vices.
According to San Isidro Mayor Arnel Sitoy promised to provide financial assistance to the family of Amar even as he ordered an investigation into the boy’s death.
Amar’s death is the second boxing-related death in some five months. In December of last year Bulacan high school student Jonas Garcia died after lying in a coma for several days following after a second round stoppage in a Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association competition in Iba, Zambales.
Garcia reportedly bled from the nose in the opening round but the ringside doctor examined Garcia and allowed the fight to continue. However, the referee stopped the fight in the second round after the young boxer complained of dizziness.