A brain damaged boxer recently received a $22 million settlement from the state of New York.
In 2013, heavyweight boxer Magomed Abdusalamov lost a 10-round decision to Mike Perez in an undercard boxing match that aired on HBO. After fighting for 30 minutes, Abdusalamov suffered permanent brain damage.
After filing lawsuits against multiple parties, including the New York State Athletic Commission, Abdusalamov’s family was awarded $22 million.
According to a report by ESPN, the family sued the athletic commission for gross negligence and medical malpractice.
“After Abdusalamov’s fight on Nov. 2, 2013, his family filed suit alleging recklessness, gross negligence and medical malpractice by the New York State Athletic Commission, NYSAC staff and the doctors it retained to work that night. The complaint said improper care crucially delayed diagnosis and treatment of a developing blood clot in Abdusalamov’s brain. He underwent emergency surgery, suffered multiple strokes, was in a coma for weeks, and was hospitalized for more than 10 months, including in-patient rehabilitation.”
Among the gross negligence from the NYSAC include the commission forcing Abdusalamov and his team to get their own taxi to the hospital after his fight.
Abdusalamov received $40,000 for the fight and was given $10,000 from his insurance policy. Over two years after the fight, Abdusalamov’s family was over $2 million in debt due to his injuries according to the court documents filed in 2015.
