Australian boxer Brayd Smith has died in hospital two days after being defeated by Filipino John Vincent Moralde.
The 23-year-old collapsed soon after the match and was taken to hospital in Brisbane, despite being able to talk to friends at ringside following a points defeat in his home town of Toowoomba.
Nicknamed ‘The Great White’, the featherweight was unbeaten in 12 fights prior to Saturday’s encounter, while also studying for a law degree away from the sport.
Family spokesman James O’Shea announced the tragic death on Monday morning, after doctors previously placed Smith into an induced coma.
He said: "He really wanted to change the image of boxing. A lot of times in this country the sport gets a bad rap. A big goal of his life was to show people it's not (a bad sport)."
Competing for the WBC Asia Continental Title, Smith had taken to social networking sites earlier in the day to promote the fight, posting a photograph with the caption: “It's fight day!”
The son of famous boxing trainer Brendon Smith, he was the current WBC World Youth Featherweight champion, having made his professional debut on 13th August 2011 – securing a knock-out win at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
Smith initially suffered mild bruising under his right eye and redness over his brow (pictured) from the ten-round bout.