Boxing mourns the passing of young Donovan Garcia
The boxing world is mourning the passing of rising star Donovan Garcia, a young boxer who died after sustaining serious injuries in a car accident, aged just 15-years-old.
Donovan was a decorated amateur boxer from Colorado, who was left with severe brain injuries following a car crash on Wednesday, January 11.
After seven days of fighting, the talented young man sadly lost his final battle: “Donovan fought his biggest battle and fought seven rounds. His family wants everyone to know that he is at peace, and they are at peace with God’s will,” his relatives commented on social networks.
Donovan Garcia, 15, was left with severe brain injuries following a January 11 crash, according to the family's GoFundMe page. Doctors performed final tests on him, but he was unresponsive and pronounced legally dead last week.
'Being that Donovan's entire body from the neck down was fully functional, his parents fought to keep him on life support,' read the post from Garcia's cousin, Rosmina. 'Despite their best efforts, Donovan's health started to decline. Sadly, Donovan fought his biggest battle and went seven rounds, but he was tired.
'His family wants everyone to know that he is at peace and they are at peace with God's will. We will update everyone on services as soon as we can. Thank you everyone for the continued prayers, support, and love. Donovan's memory and legacy will live on forever.'
Garcia won a Golden Gloves title in 2019, as well as Silver Gloves State Champion and Junior Olympics State Champion honours during his decorated amateur career.
An obituary for Donovan was shared by the funeral home, with many mourners sharing their memories of the teenager.
'I met Donovan at our Brawlers gym a couple years ago,' wrote a man identifying himself as 'Coach Mario' and believed to be Mario Marin. 'Such a well mannered (sic) disciplined young man I thought watching him train. I told my son X, ''that kid right there gets it! He is talented and he started training as a little one much like you son.''
'We would later run into him and his Father/Coach Daniel at events and they were always class acts, we enjoyed watching Donovan-Garcia perform,' Mario continued. 'Loved his cowboy gimmick!!! Kid was an entertainer/athlete. We lost him here on Earth and Heaven gained an Angel. RIP Champ.'
Another boxing coach, Manuel Alvarado, wrote that Donovan had a 'heart of gold.'
'I had the pleasure of training him when he was seven-years-old and got him registered with USA BOXING to start his amateur career,' Alvarado wrote. 'He went on to be a great champion beating some of the best boxers. Boxing was his passion.'
The World Boxing Council paid tribute this week.
BBN would like to express their heartfelt condolences to Donovan's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
