Five & a half years ago today,

Two Boxers lives changed forever:

On many weekends of the year me along with thousands if not millions of boxing fans tune in to watch Boxing: The Sweet Science. Sometimes it’s championship fights, sometimes it’s up and coming stars and other times it’s a blockbuster big Time Fight. What ever the fight we look for excitement, punching power and aggressiveness, A warriors mentality which is legally unleashed in the squared circle. Unfortunately, the best fights, the action packed toe-to-toe fights (fight of the years candidates) that we often talk about for weeks, months and years to come, often come with a very heavy price for the fighters. Common logic will tell you that taking blows to the head is not a very healthy thing, there is much respect to those who step in between the ropes.

On November 2nd, 2013, Magomed Abdusalamov (record 18-0 from Russia) took on Mike Perez (19-0 from Cuba) on the Gennady Golovkin vs. Curtis Stevens undercard at Madison Square Garden, New York City. It was featured live on HBO with Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. calling the anticipated fight. Both fighters weighed in over 230 pounds and were in the prime of their career (Perez-28 years old & Abdusalamov-32 years old). They had 21 first round Knockouts between them (so you knew it would be fireworks from the start).

As the introductions were made by Michael Buffer, both fights has a special look of determination in there eyes, they new they gave everything during training and this was the biggest fight of there life, a win would get them not only a major Title shot, but prominence as a Heavyweight and big money fights (they both knew they would win, they both knew they couldn’t lose).

The bell rang and these two massive men went after each other throwing heavy shots from the get-go. Being that they were both in their prime and undefeated they had chins like Stone and an unmatched determination that only the best of all warriors have. As anticipated both boxers landed huge shots from the start. It didn’t take very long to realize there was a huge action packed fight unfolding before our eyes, one of historic proportions.

The rounds went on and they both landed huge punches, they both took as good as they gave (picture Gatti / Ward but Heavyweights in there prime). It got to the point where I couldn’t believe what I was watching as the punishment being dished out by both fighters is something I have not seen before, even though Perez was getting in more shots, how could you stop a fight if you didn’t know which boxer was in control, I kept on watching the fight and telling my wife that I couldn’t believe the brutality of this match, and boy did these guys put on a show. Abdusalamov took heavy artillery in the 9th round and you finally saw the doubt in his face while getting ready to come out for the 10th and final round which he did.

It was a very scary fight, the punishment these two handed out was unreal. There is a fine line between boxing and brutality and this fight was brutality. Forget fight of the year honors, it was the most damaging fight I’ve ever seen (Abdusalamov suffered a broken nose and broken left hand and kept fighting). Perez won the fight on points.

Abdusalamov underwent emergency brain surgery and was in the hospital for over 10 months. After the fight Abdusalamov complained that his head hurt and instead of the doctors sending him directly to the hospital in an ambulance, they told him to take a taxi to the hospital. It was determined that Abdusalamov had a blood clot in his brain and suffered multiple strokes. Five years later he can barely speak and still paralyzed, his family and his wife went through hell, it was beyond a nightmare as they pleaded for help.

Last September ( September 2017) Magomed Abdusalamov Won  a $22 million settlement for the fight that left him Paralyzed. It was ruled that the New York State Athletic Commission did not perform proper care and have since reviewed and changed some of the way they do business. Abdusalamov’s wife got some justice for all the pain she endured, she said she wishes she had her husband healthy over any amount of money.

Mike Perez was also never the same after the fight. He became very depressed and the Hunger for boxing and training was never the same.

Two men in there prime, in impeccable shape stepped into the ring the night of November 2nd, 2013 and 40 minutes later there lives changed forever.