Light heavyweight boxer Joe George Jr. Collapsed in his corner between the first and second rounds of a fight against Atif Oberlton Sunday night at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, forcing a stoppage to the bout.
The incident occurred after George Jr. And Oberlton clashed heads during the first round, according to reports. Following the round, George Jr. Returned to his corner where his coach began providing him with water. Witnesses and reports indicate that George Jr. Then became limp and fell to the canvas.
Ring officials and medical personnel immediately attended to George Jr., who was motionless for a period, prompting concern among the crowd of thousands in attendance. One fan was overheard exclaiming, “Are you f—— serious?” while another yelled, “He’s not moving!” according to the Detroit News.
George Jr. Eventually moved an arm, drawing cheers, and was able to sit up before being placed on a stretcher. He reportedly resisted being moved but was ultimately taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. He was conscious when leaving the arena.
Oberlton was declared the winner by technical knockout (TKO). He later told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard that George Jr. Expressed concern for his well-being after regaining consciousness. “Just like, ‘I got love for you, bro.’ It’s cool,” Oberlton said. “I just wanted to build sure he was safe.”
Medical staff will conduct further testing to rule out any serious brain injuries, including a potential brain bleed, a common concern in boxing. George Jr. Is currently listed in stable condition.
The fight was a co-featured bout on the undercard of the Claressa Shields versus Franchon Crews-Dezurn event, where Shields retained her undisputed women’s heavyweight championship by unanimous decision. With the loss, George Jr.’s record falls to 13-2. Oberlton improved to 15-0 with 13 knockouts.