25-year-old boxer dies after knock-out in final minute of fight

A boxer has died aged just 25 after sustaining a head injury during a knockout loss in the eighth and final round of a fight in Barranquilla, Colombia. 

Welterweight Luis Quinones fought Jose Munoz last Saturday at Coliseo Elias Chegwi, where he was knocked out with under a minute of the fight remaining. 

Footage of the fight showed Quinones falling to the canvas after being punched, with the Colombian unable to get up. He was then taken from the ring on a stretcher. 

Following the fight he was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a blood clot on his brain. Sadly, he never regained consciousness and he died five days later. 

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The Colombian Boxing Federation announced the news on Friday (30 September), saying in a statement (via Yahoo news): “We express our most sincere condolences to all his family. Peace in his grave and resignation to the designs of God.”

Quinones, who started boxing in 2018, was undefeated (10-0) until his final fight, with six knockouts to his name. 

In a post on Instagram from last year, he had called boxing ‘the ultimate challenge there is’. 

In a statement Quinones' promoters said: "Cuadrilatero Boxing deeply regrets the death of Luis Quinones, an exceptional human being, disciplined and who always showed the greatest commitment to this sport.

"We would like to thank the staff at the General Clinic of the North, who during this time did what was within their power and took care of Luis in the best possible way."

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Munoz, who is also undefeated and was a sparring partner of Quinones, has been left devastated by the death.

He said: "I never thought that a dream could turn into a real nightmare."

"The desire to succeed in life put us both on the same path, but because of those things in life and especially the profession we chose, today you are in a situation that we never imagined.

"During the last days, your image does not stop in my head, and I think about the great future that lies ahead. We have been partners and friends of sparring which has allowed me to know all the good things you have to offer as a person and as an athlete."

In a post on Facebook, Quinones’ heartbroken brother Leonardo stated: "Now you are in the arms of your heavenly, whom you adored and served. I love you my brother Luis Quinones, forever in our hearts."

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