COLLAPSE OF BOXER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10956, 19 July 1921, Page 6

COLLAPSE OF BOXER

A MELBOURNE SENSATION. ’DEATH THREE- HOURS LATER. There was a remarkable conclusion to a boxing contest before 10,000 people in the West Melbourne Stadium on the evening of July 2nd, when in the 13th. round- of a match with “Bert" McCarthy, a Filipino featherweight, Dencio Cabanela partially collapsed. Three 'hours later ’he died in the hospital, to which he had been removed. The scene, was one of the most extraordinary witnessed at - the stadium. Dencio, who was a sturdy, muggety boxer, forced the fighting on McCarthy remorselessly,' and wore him down by smashing body blows. McCarthy, however excelled in science, and generalship. and the precision with which his left leads conrifected with Dencio’s head, gave shim an ■indoubted advantage on points in every round. In the 13th Dencio was fighting strongly, when, without receiving an effective blow, ho suddenly walked over to the ropes and held his glove to his head. The referee asked— him what was the matter, and Dencio replied in broken English, "Head very eore." Seeing that he was genuinely unablo to continue, the referee awarded the decision to McCarthy, amid a Bcone of great excitement.

Dencio was given a mixed reception ns ho walked to hia corner. Ho weakened as he climbed, through the ropes, and had fo be carried, to the dressing .room. There *he recovered, but ten minutes afterwards complained that his head was very cold. As lio lost consciousness, the stadium authorities had him taken immediately to the hospital, where three doctors attended him. As the result of a post-mortem examination, a doctor reported to the authorities. that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage.