Ray Mancini offers help to boxer after fatal bout
Boxer Hamzah Aljahmi of Detroit died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Health Center where he had been since Saturday when he collapsed during a bout with Anthony Taylor of Warren.
1/2
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Boxer Hamzah Aljahmi of Detroit died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Health Center where he had been since Saturday when he collapsed during a bout with Anthony Taylor of Warren.
The Mahoning County Coroner is working to determine what caused Aljahmi's death.
The fight was one of 14 bouts scheduled at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Banquet Center in Youngstown.
The 114-pound match was Aljahmi's introduction into professional boxing.
Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato calls Aljahmi's death an unfortunate incident that rarely occurs.
Profato says Aljahmi was knocked down about three times during the bout, but not immediately one after the other. It later appeared that Aljahmi's knees gave out, and he collapsed at the end of the fourth round.
"Near the end of the fourth round, he kind of, without getting hit, lost his balance and he fell back into the ropes," Profato said.
Anthony Taylor acknowledged his opponent's death, writing on his Facebook page, “My opponent from Saturday has died from brain injury. I went to see him and his family today. I never wanted any of this stuff to happen. You will always be in my heart. RIP Hamzah Aljahmi. Join with me and pay respect to him please.”
Former world lightweight boxing champ Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini tells 21 News that he has offered to talk with Taylor about Aljahmi's death.
Doo Koo Kim died after a 1982 world championship match with Mancini in Las Vegas. Mancini has written about how he dealt with Kim's death, which included meeting Kim's son and family.