Sad news as Arest Saakyan Russian super-middleweight dies of injuries
26-year-old super-middleweight Arest Saakyan (6-3, 5KOs) has passed away due to injuries sustained in his last pro bout on December 26th.
The 5ft 8in Armenian-born Russian was KO'd in the eighth and final round by Igor Semernin (4-0, 4KOs) on Boxing Day at the Rave Boxing Club in Tolyatti near Oblast, Russia.
Saakyan participated in a tough contest with 21-year-old Semernin, who has a 100% KO ratio.
In the final round, Semernin connected with a crunching left hand that saw Saakyan hit the floor and lay still for a while. He was then transported to the hospital in an unconscious state and remained in a coma for 10 days.
The family announced that Saakyan had succumbed to his devastating injuries over the weekend, despite an attempt at a life-saving surgery.
Tributes began pour in for Saakyan as the news broke on Saturday night.
Turning pro in 2018, Saakyan won four of his first five bouts via knockout, culminating in winning the WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver middleweight championship, which went the distance against Thailand’s Theerawat Yoohanngoh at the Bone Night Club in Pattaya, Thailand.
Two decision reverses followed before Saakyan returned to winning ways in September 2021 when he stopped Khusan Yuldashev in two rounds.
Then came the fatal Igor Semernin clash against a one hundred percent knockout artist. It is yet another reminder of the dangers boxers face in every single fight.
At the time of the stoppage, Semernin was ahead on the cards with all three officials. Alexander Kalinkin had 68-66, Andrey Makeichev saw 70-63, and Alexey Paramonov had 69-65.
BBN would like to express their deepest condolences to Arest Saakyan's friends and family at this difficult time.
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