The boxing community and beyond is in mourning.
Boxer Patrick Day died Wednesday following a traumatic brain injury he suffered in a 10th-round knockout loss to Charles Conwell in Chicago on Saturday. He was 27.
"(Day) was surrounded by his family, close friends and members of his boxing team, including his mentor, friend and trainer Joe Higgins," Day's promotional company, DiBella Entertainment, said in a statement. "On behalf of Patrick's family, team, and those closest to him, we are grateful for the prayers, expressions of support and outpouring of love for Pat that have been so obvious since his injury."
Day was carried out from the ring on a stretcher after receiving medical attention. He suffered a seizure before arriving to the hospital and was in a medically induced coma after emergency brain surgery.
Day (17-4-1, six KOs), of Freeport, N.Y., was an alternate on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team before turning pro in January 2013. He captured the WBC Continental Americas super welterweight championship in 2017 and the IBF Intercontinental championship in 2019. In June 2019, he was rated in the top 10 by both the WBC and IBF.
In a tweet Sunday, DiBella Entertainment promoter Lou DiBella said that Day made any room he was in a better place.
"I've never met anyone who's met Patrick and not liked him," DiBella said. "Never heard him utter a mean word. Never saw him greet someone without a big smile. Life doesn't seem fair sometimes."
Earlier in the week, Conwell had written an emotional letter to Day on social media.
"I never meant for this to happen to you," Conwell said. "All I ever wanted to do was win. If I could take it all back I would. No one deserves for this to happen to them. I replay the fight over and over in my head thinking what if this never happened and why did it happen to you. I can't stop thinking about it myself."
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn offered his condolences, posting on Twitter:
"Devastated to hear the news of the passing of Patrick Day. I met him for the first time last Thursday. What a charming young man with a dream and a smile that lit up the room. Our deepest prayers are with his family, his trainer Joe Higgins, Charles Conwell and promoter Lou DiBella."