Former champion Moises Fuentes dies at age 37, a year after suffering career-ending brain injury

Former two-division world champion Moises Fuentes has died at age 37. His passing comes 13 months after he suffered brain injuries in a sixth-round knockout loss to David Cuellar in his native Mexico.

The fight was Fuentes's first in three years, after he was knocked out by Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez. After he was removed from the ring on a stretcher, doctors later discovered a blood clot in his brain. He was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma.

“Thank God Moises Fuentes is already resting in peace. A warrior who fought to the last breath. Our condolences to his family and friends and our appreciation to his wife for her dedication and dedication with indescribable love during this difficult year of suffering,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a statement.

Fuentes won his first world title in 2011 when he won a split decision over Raul Garcia to win the WBO strawweight title. He made two successful defenses, including a career-best win over former world champion and future Hall of Famer Ivan Calderon, whom he stopped in five rounds, before moving up to junior flyweight. Fuentes fought Donnie Nietes to a draw in an attempt to win the WBO 108-pound title in 2013. They fought again the following year with Nietes scoring the knockout win.

Fuentes tried once more to win a world title at junior flyweight. However, three-division world champion Kosei Tanaka stopped him in five rounds for the vacant WBO 108-pound title.

Sulem Urbina urged her fellow boxers and fans to keep Fuentes in their thoughts.

“Today I ask the boxing world not to forget him. Today ask to respect boxers and pray every time one steps in the ring,” wrote Urbina on social media.