Boxer awakes from coma after knockout fight
Swedish female super featherweight boxing star Frida Wallberg underwent surgery after sustaining a serious head injury in a 10-round world championship title fight against Australia’s Diana Prazak on Friday night.
She awoke from a medically-induced coma on Sunday morning.
“Nobody wants to win this way,” said an upset Prazak after the fight in Stockholm.
Wallberg was floored twice before being brought to the ringside corner with severe pains. She received oxygen as a shocked audience looked on, some in tears.
The 30-year-old boxer was then carried out on a stretcher and brought to the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
She remained conscious throughout her ordeal but on Sunday morning she was still in a coma after undergoing surgery and was breathing with the help of a respirator.
Tabloid Aftonbladet reported that Wallberg suffered cerebral hemorrhage.
Friday's fight was the headliner event in the Golden Ring gala at Stockholm’s Waterfront Congress Centre. Wallberg was ahead on points after five rounds but Prazak floored her in the eighth round. She was hurt but was allowed to continue before being floored for a second time, leading the referee to stop the fight.
“She is doing reasonably well considering the circumstances,” one of Wallberg’s hospital caretakers told news agency TT.
Earlier, Wallberg’s trainer William Nguesseu - a former boxer who had to retire after a head injury - told Aftonbladet: “She is feeling bad. It is not good at all.”
Diana Prazak cheered when the referee blew the final whistle, not realizing that Wallberg was in a serious condition.
“This takes everything away from the victory. Everybody wants to win on a knockout but nobody wants to win this way. It doesn't feel like I have won anything at all. I am praying for her,” said Prazak.
Previously, Wallberg had twice defended her WBC belt, which she first won in November 2010. Friday's devastating fight marked her first defeat ever as a professional. Before Friday, she had achieved 11 straight wins.
The event has sparked controversy regarding the ringside doctor’s actions, with some accusing him of failing to help get Wallberg proper medical attention in time.
It has also reignited a debate in Sweden about a ban on boxing.
Meanwhile, messages of support flowed in on Facebook from members of the public while fellow boxing professionals also sent greetings to Wallberg.
“It is so unbelievable. I really feel for her. Frida has been one of our big names within boxing,” rising boxing star Erik Skoglund told tabloid Expressen.
Wallberg's boyfriend, Robert Stridsberg, told TT that the boxing champ will probably remain in hospital for up to six days.
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She awoke from a medically-induced coma on Sunday morning.
“Nobody wants to win this way,” said an upset Prazak after the fight in Stockholm.
Wallberg was floored twice before being brought to the ringside corner with severe pains. She received oxygen as a shocked audience looked on, some in tears.
The 30-year-old boxer was then carried out on a stretcher and brought to the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
She remained conscious throughout her ordeal but on Sunday morning she was still in a coma after undergoing surgery and was breathing with the help of a respirator.
Tabloid Aftonbladet reported that Wallberg suffered cerebral hemorrhage.
Friday's fight was the headliner event in the Golden Ring gala at Stockholm’s Waterfront Congress Centre. Wallberg was ahead on points after five rounds but Prazak floored her in the eighth round. She was hurt but was allowed to continue before being floored for a second time, leading the referee to stop the fight.
“She is doing reasonably well considering the circumstances,” one of Wallberg’s hospital caretakers told news agency TT.
Earlier, Wallberg’s trainer William Nguesseu - a former boxer who had to retire after a head injury - told Aftonbladet: “She is feeling bad. It is not good at all.”
Diana Prazak cheered when the referee blew the final whistle, not realizing that Wallberg was in a serious condition.
“This takes everything away from the victory. Everybody wants to win on a knockout but nobody wants to win this way. It doesn't feel like I have won anything at all. I am praying for her,” said Prazak.
Previously, Wallberg had twice defended her WBC belt, which she first won in November 2010. Friday's devastating fight marked her first defeat ever as a professional. Before Friday, she had achieved 11 straight wins.
The event has sparked controversy regarding the ringside doctor’s actions, with some accusing him of failing to help get Wallberg proper medical attention in time.
It has also reignited a debate in Sweden about a ban on boxing.
Meanwhile, messages of support flowed in on Facebook from members of the public while fellow boxing professionals also sent greetings to Wallberg.
“It is so unbelievable. I really feel for her. Frida has been one of our big names within boxing,” rising boxing star Erik Skoglund told tabloid Expressen.
Wallberg's boyfriend, Robert Stridsberg, told TT that the boxing champ will probably remain in hospital for up to six days.
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