Puerto Rican boxer Danielito “El Zorro” Zorrilla suffered no major injuries from the blows to the head during his fight Thursday against Kazakh Ruslan Madiyev in the co-feature of the event in the parking lot of the Félix Pagán Pintor Gymnasium, in Guaynabo, which was part of the Puerto Rico debut of the Ring City USA series, which NBC Sports broadcasts to the United States.
Zorrilla was crowned junior welterweight champion of the NABO, a subsidiary of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), by beating Madiyev in a technical decision after the fight was stopped in the eighth round by a contact behind the neck, in boxing better known as the dangerous ‘rabbit punch’.
The fighter, who is trained by David Oyola, scored 77-74 and 77-75 in his favor, while another saw Kazakh beat 76-73 at the time of the stoppage.
Madiyev was a tough rival to Zorrilla, but the illegal blows he inflicted forced a halt to the match and the need to take the Puerto Rican fighter to rigorous exams at the Río Piedras Medical Center.
There it was determined that Zorrilla suffered a head concussion without major complications.
“Daniel left the Medical Center at 6am,” explains promoter Héctor Soto, who is also vice president of Miguel Cotto Promotions (MCP) company. His coach, David Oyola, wrote to me saying there was only a minor concussion from the trauma behind the head. There is no bleeding, no clot. They prescribed muscle relaxants for his neck, ”he said.
However, Zorrilla will undergo further evaluation next week when seen by neurologist Luis Forastieri. “It was an incredible shock, but for us your health is the most important thing. That’s why neurologist Luis Forastieri, who provides services in our town in Caguas, will see him next week, ”explains Bryan Pérez, MCP Executive Director.
After the fight was over, Zorrilla himself said that Madiyev “is very strong, but he played dirty. He hit me a lot on my thighs, on the glass and hit me on the neck six times. It amazed me. But the doctors intervened ”.
On Friday afternoon, and after undergoing a series of tests, Zorrilla again appeared on social networks to report on his health.
“Thank goodness they released me. I am already home and follow the protocols the doctor sent us. Thank you all for your concern and love. All in all, I am very happy to have the privilege and health again to hold my children in my arms again. Thank you for your concern, my people. Then I’ll give details of the fight if I analyze it properly as I’m a little confused and I don’t remember much clearly, ”said the fighter.
Zorrilla improved to 15-0 and 11 KO’s, while Madiyev saw his record drop to 13-2 and 5 KO’s.