Las Vegas – Boxer Leavander Johnson, critically injured in the biggest fight of his life, died Thursday at a hospital where he was rushed with bleeding on the brain. He was 35.
Johnson’s kidneys had failed and his heart was not pumping on its own when family members decided to remove him from life support, his doctor said.
“We had no further mode to improve his prognosis, so the family very correctly made the decision to withdraw care,” Dr. William Smith said. “He passed away very peacefully.”
Johnson collapsed on his way to the dressing room after taking a beating in his International Boxing Federation lightweight title defense Saturday night against Jesus Chavez. Doctors were operating on him within 40 minutes to relieve pressure on his brain, but he never came out of a medically induced coma.
Chavez visited Johnson in the hospital the day after the fight.
Smith performed a second operation Monday to remove a blood clot, but Johnson was too gravely injured to survive. He was in his 41st pro fight and had more than 100 amateur bouts.
