Chicago Boxer Dies Two Days After Fight

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Nov 23, 2009 4:20PM

A tragic story from Philadelphia where a Chicago-based boxer, Francisco Rodriguez, has died just two days after a fight. According to ESPN, Rodriguez's fight on Friday night with Teon Kennedy - for the vacant USBA super bantamweight championship - was stopped by technical knock-out in the 10th round after which Rodriguez collapsed; he was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital where he underwent emergency brain surgery. Dominic Pesoli, his promoter, released a statement, saying, "Francisco was family to us and we all loved him very much. He was very popular with fight fans in Chicago and will be deeply missed." Rodriguez was 25. The Philadelphia Daily News has more on the fight and the fallout.