Welterweight Expected to Survive Brain Injury

Saturday, July 19, 2008; Page E02 Welterweight boxer Oscar Diaz remains in critical but stable condition two days after collapsing during a fight, but the doctor who performed surgery on him said he should survive. David Jimenez said Diaz is still in a coma, but that is to be expected after a severe brain injury. "Overall, I think ultimately he should survive the injury and should recover," Jimenez said. But Jimenez said it's too early to tell whether the 25-year-old Diaz, who collapsed before the 11th round of the televised USBA welterweight championship fight Wednesday night, will be able to lead a normal life. "I think the fact that he's young, the fact that he's healthy, the fact that he doesn't have a whole lot of medical problems, is on his side," said Jimenez, who removed a piece of Diaz's skull to relieve brain... [read full story]