Boxer David Whittom suffers traumatic brain injury in Fredericton bout

Canadian cruiserweight boxer David Whittom is in stable condition after undergoing surgery for a brain hemorrhage, hours afterlosing a weekend boxing match in Fredericton.

The pro boxer was rushed to Saint John Regional Hospital on Sunday morning andunderwent two hours of surgery to remove a portion of his skull to give the brain, which is swollen, room to heal, according to his stepbrother.

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"He's considered in stable condition but he suffered a traumatic brain injury," said Eric Moffatt.

Final moments of David Whittom vs. Gary Kopas fight in Fredericton

7 years ago

Duration 1:14

New Brunswick-born boxer David Whittom taken to intensive care after cruiserweight match at Aitken Centre

"We're not sure how that's going to play out at this point."

Whittom, who was raised in Fredericton and lives in Quebec City, remainedin the intensive-care unit Monday, heavily sedatedand breathing with the help ofa respirator.

Moffattsaid doctors have scheduled aCT scan for Tuesday.

"It's one of those things where we expect the worst and hope for the best," he said."The brain has to decide how it's going to heal ... it's going to be a long process."

Fight night

Whittom, 38, was fighting Gary Kopas of Saskatoon for the vacantCanadian Professional Boxing Council cruiserweight championship, and lostin the 10th round.

"It was a war," said Brandon Brewer, organizer of the night's big event. "It was a good fightback and forth."

The family is looking for thoughts and prayers for David's hopeful recovery from this.- Eric Moffatt

When Whittom finished thefight, medics checked him outand he proceeded to watch the next fights at ringside with his family.

"In the ring, the doctor was there," said Whittom's trainer, Franois Duguay."He didn't respond very well to all the questions, like the date, which year weare, where we are right now, who's that guy beside you?"

But after seven to eight minutes, Duguay said, Whittomwas OK, started to recognizepeople and knew where he was.

"We went back to the dressing room and he was talking normally," he said. "He went in the shower he was yelling in the shower that the water was too cold."

Shortly after midnight, Whittom leftthe Aitken Centre with Moffatt,whodropped him off at his mother's house and left. ButMoffatt quickly returned because Whittomwasn't feeling well.

"He was complaining of a headache ... he was starting to feel like he was overheating," he said.

On the verge of throwing up, Whittom was advised byhis coachesto go to the hospital. A CT scan at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital revealed the hemorrhage.

"The family is looking for thoughts and prayers for David's hopeful recovery from this," saidMoffatt.

Other boxer questioned referee

In the 10th round, Gary Kopas said he questioned the referee about keeping the fight going when he saw that Whittom was in bad shape. But he was told to keep boxing, so he threw a few more punchesto Whittom's head until the referee jumped in, he said.

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In hindsight, he felt bad the fight didn't stop sooner, he told CBC News on Monday.

"I was mad but at the same time I was obviously pumped," he said. "I wanted to win there, but at the same time, I didn't want to hit him again either."

A love for boxing

For the past 26 months, Whittom has been training hardand was determined to win the title fightSaturday night.

Duguaysaid this was his last fight.

"We were winning that fight," said Duguay. "It's not for money, it's passion."

The boxing community in both Quebec and New Brunswickhavebeen supportive.

Whittom, a native of Saint-Quentin in New Brunswick, started boxing when he was a teenager.

While Whittam started his career with wins in seven of his first nine fights, hebecame a journeyman opponent for a number of notable fighters, including current world light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson of Montrealand Quebec-based contender Eleider Alvarez.

His overall record was 12-24-1, with eight knockouts, but he had lost 18 of his last 20 bouts.

"David found his passion in boxing," Moffatt said. "He was able to find apositiveoutlet in boxing, and that's why the boxing community has really reached out."

Everyone is rooting for Whittom'sfull recovery across Eastern Canada, Brewer said.

"He's a tough cookie."