DiBella Entertainment Statement: Patrick Day passed away today, October 16, 2019, succumbing to the traumatic brain injury he suffered in his fight this past Saturday, October 12, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. He was surrounded by his family, close friends and members of his boxing team, including his mentor, friend and trainer Joe Higgins. On behalf of Patrick’s family, team, and those closest to him, we are grateful for the prayers, expressions of support and outpouring of love for Pat that have been so obvious since his injury.
Before establishing himself as a world class professional fighter, Pat was a highly decorated amateur. He won two Nationals titles, the New York Golden Gloves tournament and was an Olympic Team alternate, all in 2012. Day turned pro in 2013 and overcame early career struggles to become a world-rated super welterweight contender. He captured the WBC Continental Americas championship in 2017 and the IBF Intercontinental championship in 2019. In June 2019, he was rated in the top-10 by both the WBC and IBF.
He was also a dedicated college student, having earned an Associate’s degree in Food and Nutrition from Nassau Community College and, subsequently, a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Wellness from Kaplan University. He was a son, brother, and good friend to many. Pat’s kindness, positivity, and generosity of spirit made a lasting impression with everyone he met. During his short life, boxing allowed Patrick to impact many communities, both big and small. In his hometown of Freeport, Long Island, he was a beacon of light and the star pupil at the Freeport PAL, the gym he trained in from the moment he began boxing until the last bout of his career. He was recognized as one of Long Island’s finest professional fighters for years. He was a fixture in the boxing community throughout New York City. Patrick was even known in Japan, which he visited to spar with his friend and colleague, world champion Ryota Murata.
Patrick Day didn’t need to box. He came from a good family, he was smart, educated, had good values and had other avenues available to him to earn a living. He chose to box, knowing the inherent risks that every fighter faces when he or she walks into a boxing ring. Boxing is what Pat loved to do. It’s how he inspired people and it was something that made him feel alive.
It becomes very difficult to explain away or justify the dangers of boxing at a time like this. This is not a time where edicts or pronouncements are appropriate, or the answers are readily available. It is, however, a time for a call to action. While we don’t have the answers, we certainly know many of the questions, have the means to answer them, and have the opportunity to respond responsibly and accordingly and make boxing safer for all who participate. This is a way we can honor the legacy of Pat Day. Many people live much longer than Patrick’s 27 years, wondering if they made a difference or positively affected their world. This was not the case for Patrick Day when he left us. Rest in peace and power, Pat, with the angels.
I know pat personally , went to the regionals together in lake placid in 2011 after winning the metros here in New York … such an amazing kid , I’m really heartbroken by this … Rest In Peace my brother !
Horrible !! Plain Horrible.
Patrick is dead. – Charles is going to walk away from the sport – So many lives ruined over this.
Sad news. Was hoping he’d pull through. 🙁
When Jerry Quarry died abut 2003, I said I was done with boxing but I continued liking and watching the sport. Today I am gutted again. A few weeks ago I watch Patrick fought Adesma, he lost but didn’t look bad at all.
My condolence go out to all his family, friends, coaches. A very sad and scary day for all members of the boxing fraternity and sports in general. May God rest his soul and comfort his family.
I actually groaned with this news of Patrick’s passing, I was hoping he’d pull through like Superman. I watched this fight on DAZN and he was a warrior in the ring. Boxing fans are mourning his death, his family and friends are in our thoughts.
Rest in peace young man…
I certainly hope the family considered organ donation as a gift to help others. No kidding. Patrick Day’s family could help others live-on in his spirit with organ donation.
Man, that is sad. Dudashev and now Day within about a month’s span.
This news is so sad, I was really hoping he could pull through. The world has lost a fine young man. I wish his family & friends all the best wishes in their time of grief and hope that they will be able to get through this tough time.
Rest in Peace Patrick Day !
This is absolutely tragic and sickening. My condolences to Patrick Day’s family. So sorry to see any fighter hurt or die from their participation in the sport.
Oh no
Seems like PD was a genuinely well liked person. Eddie Hearn said (a day after the fight) what a decent guy he seemed.
The one good thing is that he didn’t come out cabbaged which would have been a worse outcome but still very sad news
R.I.P.
Fighters are cut from a different cloth. Every time they enter the ring, there’s a very legitimate chance they might die. Patrick Day seemed like a real cool, relatable guy. Rest easy Sir
R.I.P Champ, you certainly were a warrior.
thats so sad to hear ….RIP young warrior …..
Until the powers that be understand that more padding on the gloves is NOT the answer, this will continue to happen. I have been a huge fan of the sweet science since I was a small child. And at 42 years of age today I have seen too many fighters take unnecessary beatings for far too long. I have said this a thousand times, the reason you don’t see deaths in MMA is because they only wear enough padding to keep from breaking their hands. The first time a guy gets caught clean it’s lights out, and they don’t take the repetitive beating which leads to what we saw the other night. I watched this fight (as I have many others) and while Pat was “in this fight” he was losing. I remember watching Leavander Johnson getting beat to death on live TV and understanding why the ref didn’t stop the bout. Johnson took a tremendous beating that night, but never gave up and came back w shots of his own just when you thought he was done. Again if they had fought either of these fights with 6 ounce gloves, these tragic endings WOULD NOT have occurred. The extra padding is not helping the guys who have the heart not to quit. Show me a guy that’s all heart and I’ll show you someone that will take a terrible beating. I feel for the winner of these bouts, as they will never be the same after something like this. There are countless examples of this in boxing history. This is why you MUST respect anyone willing to make a living this way. And to the cowards that are quick to call a guy a bum……F*CK YOU.