IN
THE split-second that Campbelltown’s Davey Browne jr took his eyes off the action for a quick look at his glove laces, a whistling right-cross from Filipino boxing import Carlo Magali barreled through his defence and put an end to the Australian’s life.
By JAIME K PIMENTEL
The tragedy immediately sparked yet another outcry across the world to ban boxing.
It was the fourth death in an Australian boxing ring involving a Filipino import: Dencio Cabanela in July 1921 and Alberto Jangalay in October 1971 both dying in the ring; John Moralde surviving in March and Carlo Maagali in September 2015.
Browne was knocked out at Ingleburn RSL Club on Friday, September 11, and died on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at Liverpool Hospital.
It was only months after another Australian boxing champion, Brayd Smith, had died following a match against another Filipino import, John Moralde.
The circumstances between the two tragedies differed: A boxing official who was at ringside said he believed Browne was “out cold before he hit the floor” and never recovered.
In the fight on Saturday, March 14, Smith completed 12 rounds and posed for photographs with Moralde before returning to his dressing room, collapsing, and then dying in hospital two days later.
The similarity was that both fights were scheduled for 12 rounds with regional world titles at stake: The Browne v Magali fight was for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Eurasia Pacific featherweight title.
The Smith v Moralde fight was for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Continental featherweight title.
Moralde had been a last-minute substitute to challenge Smith for the vacant title. The Browne v Magali fight had been set for May 23, but rescheduled by promoters for September 15.
Meantime, there has been renewed calls to ban boxing in Australia.
The Australian Medical Association went further and called for banning boxing from the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games as well as prohibiting all forms of combat sports for men and women under the age of 18 years.
Similar calls have been issued for years.
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PICTURES:
TOP: Carlo Magali, right, bores in under Davey Browne’s left jab to come closer for his counter-attack.
LOWER: John Moralde, right, drops his guard against Brayd Smith to lure him in.
