Scottish Boxer Pronounced ‘Clinically Dead’ After Ko

Scottish bantamweight James Murray, who underwent brain surgery following a final-round knockout in a title fight, is “clinically dead,” his manager said Saturday night.

Manager Alex Morrison said neurosurgeon Garth Cruikshank told the fighter’s parents, Margaret and Kenny Murray, that they cannot switch off his life support machine until today.

Murray’s knockout by Drew Docherty in the British bantamweight title fight started a riot at ringside and prompted more calls for the sport to be banned.

Three hours after losing the fight and being carried out of the ring on a stretcher, Murray had a blood clot removed from his brain. Although surgeons said the operation went smoothly, Murray’s condition remained critical.

A hospital spokesman said further assessment of his condition would be made this morning.

It is the second time this year that a fighter has suffered serious brain damage in a British ring.

In February, American super-middleweight Gerald McClellan had a blood clot removed from his brain after losing a WBC title fight to Britain’s Nigel Benn in London and now is at home, barely able to move or communicate.

The latest tragedy led to renewed calls Saturday for the sport to be banned.

Meanwhile police launched an inquiry into the ringside violence which erupted at Glasgow’s Hospitality Inn with 25-year-old Murray lying on the canvas.

Five people needed hospital treatment after being hurt in the violence reportedly caused by about 50 supporters of the injured fighter and police said several arrests had been made.

At Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, Argentina’s Jorge Castro retained his WBA middleweight crown Friday, beating Reggie Johnson of Cincinnati on a split decision.