The combat sports community mourns the death of Patrick Day

The death of 27-year-old professional boxer Patrick Day, which was the result of a brain injury sustained in a recent boxing match, has sent a shockwave through the combat sports world.

All over social media, professional boxers, mixed martial artists and combat sports personalities have been mourning his passing.

See some of the reactions to the death of Patrick Day below:

Patrick Day’s death has got me fucked up ,I followed him on Instagram and observed his training from the outside . Seemed like a genuinely great soul with an incredible spirit and outlook on life . His message leading up to his death was to live fully . I will Pat thank you 🙏🏼

— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) October 17, 2019

https://twitter.com/EddieHearn/status/1184588192894406661

#RIP Patrick Day. In a business of shitheads and frauds you were always genuine, honest and real. Both in and out of the ring. You'll be missed Champ https://t.co/Ce6xOQErXv

— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) October 16, 2019

Damn man, Rest easy Patrick Day. Prayers to your friends and family

— Gervonta Davis (@Gervontaa) October 16, 2019

All sports & boxing fans, please read the words below from Lou DiBella and DiBella Entertainment that tell us about this wonderful young man..everyone in the boxing community is crushed.

Patrick Day Passes Away From Traumatic Brain Injury – Boxing News https://t.co/uyktqm5A3n

— Michael Buffer (@Michael_Buffer) October 16, 2019

Another fighter loses his life, heart breaking stuff which really upsets me RIP CHAMP 🙏🏻🥊 #patrickday pic.twitter.com/w6Mg3d6Ibx

— Anthony Fowler (@afowler06) October 16, 2019

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3skxVjlosj/

The passing of Patrick Day was announced in a statement from Lou DiBella on Wednesday.

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.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/16/2019.