CARLO Magali should have been jubilant after winning the WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council super featherweight title in Australia last week.
But Magali was in no mood to celebrate after learning that his opponent, David Browne Jr., died on Monday.
Reports said Browne, who was knocked out by Magali in Round 12, regained consciousness but then collapsed from his stool. He was taken to hospital in critical condition suffering from brain injuries.
“Nalulungkot ako kasi hindi ko naman ginusto na mamatay yung kalaban ko,” Magali told Sun*Star Baguio.
It was his 19th win against seven losses and three draws.
The Bohol-born fighter now based in La Trinidad, Benguet, admitted he wanted to celebrate after the win but thought otherwise, seeing Browne unconscious in the ring.
“After nung knockout gusto kong magcelebrate pero sinabi ko sa sarili ko na wag na lang at baka isipin nila mayabang ako kaya umupo na lang ako sa corner namin tapos nagtalukbong ng tuwalya,” he said.
Magali’s coach and cornerman Eric Santig said the bout was close throughout before Magali decked Browne in the final 30 seconds of the fight.
Browne’s death comes just six months after a Queensland boxer, Braydon Smith, collapsed and died after he lost a 10-round featherweight bout against another Filipino John Moralde.