Requiem for a fighter
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 May 2023
Egano (R) in action against Facularin.
The boxing world was in mourning after news spread of Kenneth Egano’s death last week. Freddie Roach took to social media to express his sympathies. Referee Edward Collantes, who worked the Jason Moloney-Vincent Astrolabio fight in Stockton, California, last weekend, said he was crestfallen.
Egano was brought to the Imus Doctors Hospital in an ambulance after collapsing in the ring at the end of his eight-round bantamweight fight against Jason Facularin in the City of Imus Sports Complex last May 6. He was in a coma for four days until his death. His parents were flown in by former Sen. Manny Pacquiao from Mindanao to confer with doctors regarding surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain. Doctors reportedly said Egano couldn’t be operated on because of a blood condition. Egano’s trainer Dexter Benatero was advised to produce blood for transfusion and bought seven bags from the Emilio Aguinaldo Medical Center. But there was never any surgery performed.
An American boxing official said a fighter with a blood clot in the brain must be operated on within the hour to save his life. The surgery will involve boring a hole in the skull to seep out the blood causing the brain to swell. In Egano’s case, he was left lying in bed while doctors waited for his condition to stabilize. His remains were brought to General Santos City where he was laid to rest.
The Philippine Boxing Federation raised over P50,000 for Egano’s family with contributions from JC Manangquil, Jun Paderna, Floriezul Podot, Bebot and Cucuy Elorde, Dante Almario, Aljoe Jaro, Noah Landicho, Villamor Boxing Gym, Darwin Miller and Art Monis. Pacquiao’s staff led by Marife Barrera, GAB chairman Atty. Richard Clarin, GAB boxing and other combat sports chief Jackie Lou Cacho-Ornido and Imus Mayor Alex Advincula closely monitored Egano’s situation throughout his confinement. Pacquiao shouldered all the medical and funeral costs.
There was no indication during the fight that Egano would lose consciousness. He was dropped by a left straight in the second round but got up immediately then took control of the bout, leaving Facularin puffy around both eyes and battered. Walking back to his corner after the seventh round, Egano surprisingly shadow boxed. A boxing expert said the unusual behavior could’ve been a sign that there was something wrong with his brain. While awaiting the announcement of the judges’ decision, Egano slumped on his stool in the ring. “Pagkatapos ng laban, inakap ni Kenneth si Facularin,” said Benatero. “Pagbalik sa corner, hilo siya. Sinabunutan ko at humiga sa lona. Sabi ko sa kaniya, huwag pumikit at matulog. Na-stretcher siya palabas.” His purse for the fight was P20,000.
Benatero said he’d trained Egano since he was an amateur at 15. Egano turned pro in 2019, was inactive the next year due to the pandemic then returned to action in 2021. For a while, Egano was based in Digos where his mother is employed as a katiwala. His father takes care of fighting cocks in General Santos City. He was reunited with Benatero last year and joined the GenSan stable of Alex Dajay Amoy. After Egano was brought to the hospital, it was announced that he had won over the previously unbeaten Facularin by a unanimous decision, raising his record to 7-1, with three KOs. Judges Tony Comia and Danilo Lopez had it both 76-75 and Carlo Baluyut, 77-74. Referee Nowell Haduca said he had no inkling that Egano was injured and was shocked when the fighter collapsed.
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