Advertisement

Boxing: Stevenson remains "critical" with brain injury - surgeon

FILE PHOTO: Adonis Stevenson of Canada celebrates after knocking out Tony Bellew of England (L) during their World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight title boxing match at the Colisee in Quebec City, December 1, 2013. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger

(Reuters) - Canadian boxer Adonis Stevenson remains in "critical condition" with a brain injury and it is premature to speculate about his long-term prognosis, his doctor said on Wednesday. Haiti-born Stevenson was knocked out in a WBC light heavyweight title fight in Quebec City on Saturday. His doctor at the Quebec University Hospital said the boxer had undergone surgery soon after being admitted. "He suffers from severe traumatic brain injury," Alexis Turgeon told reporters. "His situation is still stable under the circumstances, but critical." Stevenson was knocked out in the 11th round when his Ukrainian opponent Oleksandr Gvozdyk delivered a vicious combination to end the Canadian’s unbeaten streak of 17 bouts. Stevenson slumped to the canvas and though he eventually got to his feet, doctors deemed his condition serious enough to send him to hospital. "His condition requires mechanical respiratory assistance, deep sedation and specialized neurological monitoring. It is too early to comment on Mr. Stevenson’s long-term prognosis," Turgeon said. "It’s a traumatic brain injury. The majority of people come out of it with after-effects." (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Ed Osmond)