Hall of Fame Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler took to Twitter to comment on the ring death of Frankie Leal, who passed away on Tuesday after being knocked out in a bout Saturday night in Cabos San Lucas, BCS, Mexico. Leal was previously taken from the ring on a stretcher after his 2012 KO loss to current IBF featherweight champion Evgeny Gradovich in San Antonio, Texas. However Leal returned to the ring in January of this year and his fight with Hirales was his fifth fight in 2013.
This is so wrong. I thought Leal was going to die the night he fought Gradovich, but he kept going and going until this. RIP
Frankie Leal death no surprise after Gradovich sent him to hospital in 2012. Kept seeking fights – trainer should have retired him. Sad.
But it didn’t have to happen. Leal went to hospital in Texas and we had tears in eyes because we didn’t think he would make it.
Frankie as much to blame as anyone for seeking fights, but no trainer or cornerman should have gotten near that corner.
This was no roll of the dice, He almost died last year in Texas but pushed the envelope too far this time. Almost suicidal.
Fighters should have the right to determine their fate. I’m just saying this death was predictable and avoidable.