Medical association pushes for fight ban after Australian boxer dies

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) called for a ban on boxing on Tuesday following the death of a 28-year-old fighter after he was knocked unconscious in the ring. Davey Browne Jr died early on Tuesday from his injuries from an IBF super-featherweight regional title fight four days previously, after his family authorised his life-support to be turned off in a Sydney hospital. The father-of-two was knocked out 30 seconds from the end of the super featherweight 12-round contest against Carlo Magali of the Philippines, and collapsed on his stool before being hospitalised in critical condition with brain injuries. AMA vice-president Dr Stephen Parnis said it was time to ban boxing.

One punch can kill – whether you are outside a pub on a Friday night or in a boxing ring – and this is the thing that causes young lives to be ended so traumatically.

Dr Stephen Parnis.

New South Wales sports minister Stuart Ayres said the Combat Sports Authority, a state government agency, will cooperate fully with police in their investigation. “My thoughts are with David’s family and friends during this tragic time,” Ayres said in a statement. In March, Braydon Smith died two days after losing a fight in his home town in Toowoomba, Queensland. He had collapsed 90 minutes after the bout.

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