On Saturday night October 12, 2019, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, boxer Charles Conwell raised his arms up in the air. The 21-year-old was feeling the thrill of victory as he knocked out his opponent in the ring. He climbed on the ring ropes and acknowledged the crowd. As he turned around he noticed his opponent was still stretched out on the canvas. Charles Conwell had a look of concern as he watched boxer Patrick Day get taken out of the ring on a stretcher. Day suffered a brutal knockout in the 10th round of the super welterweight contest. He was placed in an ambulance and transported to a nearby hospital. Day had a seizure and then fell into a coma. Emergency brain surgery was performed on the wounded boxer. He fought for his life, but four days later Patrick Day succumbed to the brain injuries he endured.
During the course of the boxing contest, Patrick Day was competitive. He competed throughout each round, but it was obvious in reference to him being behind on all the scorecards. He was knocked down three times. He was knocked down in the 4th, in the 8th, and the final knockdown came in the 10th round.Â
In round 8, Conwell caught Day with a straight right hand to the chin. Day went down but popped back up. He had a dazed look in his eyes as the referee gave him a standing 8 count. The referee asked him if he was okay, and Day replied, “yes sir.” The referee asked him if he wanted to continue, and Day responded, “yes sir.” The bell rung, and Patrick Day went back to his corner.
With one minute and twenty seconds left in the 10th round, Conwell hit Day with two overhand rights and a left hook. Day went down for the third and final time. The referee immediately called an end to the bout when he noticed Patrick Day wasn’t moving. After getting hit with the left hook, Patrick Day was on his way down. Unfortunately, when he landed the back of his head bounced off the canvas. Two days after the contest Charles Conwell wrote a letter to his rival. “I can’t stop thinking about it myself. I prayed for you so many times and shed so many tears because I couldn’t even imagine how family and friends would feel. I thought about quitting boxing, but I know that’s not what you would want,” Conwell stated in the letter.
Patrick Day was a native of Long Island, New York. He was a highly decorated amateur as he won two national titles and the New York Golden Gloves tournament in 2012. He made his pro debut in 2013. Day was an athlete and scholar. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in health and wellness.
Day’s death highlights the danger boxers face every time they step in the squared circle. In late July in a span of two days, 28-year-old Russian welterweight Maxim Dadashev and 23-year-old Argentine lightweight Hugo Alfredo Santillan died in the ring.Â
Boxing is a very exciting, but dangerous sport. It is a sport that provides both high risks and high rewards.
