Boxer Near Death
Italian boxer Fabrizio De Chiara, who collapsed during a title bout Saturday night, was in a deep coma and doctors began trying to determine if he is brain dead.
The 25-year-old middleweight sustained a head injury. Surgeons at Santa Chiara Hospital in nearby Pisa twice operated to remove blood that was putting pressure on his brain.
De Chiara, who had been undefeated in 12 fights, with 10 wins, fought Vincenzo Imparato in a 12-round bout for the Italian middleweight championship.
De Chiara fought as a super welterweight at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and lost in the first round.