Virginia Boxer Steven Copeland Dies From Ring Injuries
Newport News amateur boxer Steven Copeland, 28, died on Monday night from injuries sustained in the ring Saturday during the Virginia/North Carolina Golden Gloves tournament in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Boxing Along the Beltway reports Copeland took a punch to the head, turned to his corner and collapsed. Copeland’s trainer Roger Blech told local news stations that Copeland took a knee and signaled he needed to stop, then walked over to his corner, vomited, and laid down.
From WAVY:
According to BATB, Copeland started as an mixed martial artist before taking up boxing. His death is a sobering reminder that boxers and MMA fighters risk their lives every time they step in the ring.
His family told local media that Copeland was an organ donor and his organs will be passed on to others, a small ray of hope in this horrific tragedy. We send them our deepest condolences. According to the reports above, his family has set up two GoFundMe pages for those wishing to help out financially: