Boxer Suffers Serious Injury at the Forum
Boxer Miguel Mercedes was in serious condition late Tuesday night after a vein burst in his skull after a bout at the Forum.
Mercedes was taken to Westside Hospital and later moved to Cedars Sinai, where a neurosurgeon was scheduled to meet with ringside physician Robert Karns and decide if surgery was needed immediately. Karns said that Mercedes did have swelling but that he was conscious.
After referee Jim Jen Kin stopped the fight at 45 seconds of the 10th and final round, with Mercedes trapped against the ropes by super-flyweight Cecilio Espino, Mercedes walked back to his corner and then lost consciousness.
He quickly regained his senses, and was speaking to attendants about 10 minutes after the fight.
On May 28, 1989, in Mexico, Hector Ruiz died of head injuries suffered in a fight against Espino.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
