Russian fighter Magomed Abdusalamov has brain surgery

Nov. 4, 2013
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Mike Perez, left, lands a hard left hook on the head of Magomed Abdusalamov during their heavyweight bout Saturday. Abdusalamov underwent brain surgery after the fight to remove a blood clot from his brain. / Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Velin, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Velin, USA TODAY Sports

Heavyweight boxer Magomed Abdusalamov of Russia was in a medically induced coma on Sunday following brain surgery to remove a blood clot he suffered in a brutal 10-round loss to Mike Perez on Saturday night in New York.

The fight, a slugfest from start to finish at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, was the talk of Twitter for its action and brutality, as both undefeated heavyweights handed out punishment to each other. It was the televised co-feature to Gennady Golovkin's eighth-round knockout of Curtis Stevens on HBO. Golovkin (28-0, 25 KOs) retained his middleweight titles.

Abdusalamov, 32, who came into the fight 18-0 with 18 knockouts, was in stable condition in intensive care at Roosevelt Hospital in New York, according to Lewkowicz, vice president of Sampson Boxing, which promotes Abdusalamov.

Lewkowicz said Abdusalamov went to the hospital after the fight because he thought he had a broken nose and broken hand. An examination found the blood clot. Lewkowicz said a friend who is a nurse at the hospital was optimistic that Abdusalamov's age and conditioning would help him pull through the ordeal.

HBO released a statement that said, "The thoughts and prayers of all of us at HBO Sports are with Magomed Abdusalamov. We are grateful for the medical care he is receiving here in New York City and out of respect for Magomed and his family, we will wait for any official updates on his condition before making any further statements."