According to ESPN.com, Oscar Diaz is unconscious and breathing with the assistance of a ventilator following surgery to reduce swelling in his brain following his collapse in his corner between the 10th and 11th rounds of his fight on ESPN2's Wednesday Night Fights against Delvin Rodriguez.
As I mentioned earlier, I was watching this fight as it all happened, having chosen to devote my viewing attention to this rather than the sideshow that James Toney vs. Hasim Rahman inevitably had to be (and was). This was a tough, competitive fight between two guys desperately trying to remain in the hunt for a title shot - Diaz had almost ended the fight in the 4th round with a crushing right hand that almost lifted Rodriguez off the floor, Rocky-style, but somehow Rodriguez avoided going down. From there, Rodriguez had used a steady diet of stiff jabs a straight rights to seize control of the fight. In fact, Diaz's right eye had steadily closed during the fight to the point that it was nothing more than a slit with a giant mouse underneath it by the 10th round. Still, he looked fresh at the end of the round and for all the world like he still had a chance to land a solid punch and turn the fight around.
In talking to my wife about this after the fight, she mentioned that this was precisely the reason she doesn't watch boxing, although she can watch MMA - the damage that is caused by taking shot after shot in a long, tough fight like this versus the more spectacular (but far less dangerous long-term) one-punch KOs in MMA. Her point was that what makes a "great" fight - two evenly matched fighters who trade big shots back and forth for a long period of rounds - is also what is most likely to lead to significant damage, either short-term (like tonight) or long-term.
I didn't really have any response to offer in boxing's behalf. Mainly I was too busy feeling a little sick to my stomach, thinking back to the live shots I watched of the paramedics swooping in on him and administering emergency medical techniques on him before the cameras cut away. Nights like tonight make me wonder if I have a screw loose for being a boxing fan.
On a side note: I watched SportsCenter, ESPN News and the various ESPN tickers for several hours after the fight, assuming that somewhere they would have some mention of the fight and an update on Diaz's condition. And...nothing. If ESPN is going to broadcast the fight, then they have an obligation to keep their audience informed about Diaz's condition during the night. Even saying something to the effect of "Diaz was taken to a local hospital; his condition is currently unknown" would have at least been acknowledgment of the severity of the situation. But I guess that we wouldn't have room for our 85th Brett Favre update of the night if we made time (or space on the ticker) for that...
4 comments:
Our prayers are with Oscar and his family. Your point about ESPN's coverage is right. I watched the fight and have been up late working at home waiting for an update. There was none.
Our prayers are with Oscar and his family. Out of concern for Oscar and his family, I thought ESPN2 should have at least mentioned his condition. Fans like myself would have appreciated an update and I'm sure most boxing fans would agree. It was a great fight. ESPN2 benifited from two fighters that gave their all. I think ESPN owes Oscar Diaz, his Family and fans an apology. God bless Oscar Diaz.
I too spend several hours trying to get info after the fight. This lack of concern and failure to keep viewers in the picture is just so
typical of "coverage" that spends most of their time discussing anything but the fighters in the ring who are giving their all.
I turn off the sound so I can concentrate on watching the fight without all the blarney from these "commentators"
The reason there were no updates on ESPN is because the hospital would not release any information to anyone. Due to the publicity, he was listed as a confidental patient. When that happens, a caller asks for the ICU unit where Diaz is at, and they are told there is noone listed in the hospital by that name. Standard operating procedure when there is high publicity. It's also what the family asked for.
He is on the ventilator because after a brain injury, patients are kept as calm as possible to allow the brain to heal and reduce swelling that could be deadly. They are sedated to the point that they can not breathe on their own safely.
Only time will tell his outcome.
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