Updated: July 22, 2007, 4:38 PM ET

Hospitalized Larios, Amonsot OK, but careers likely finished

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By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
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LAS VEGAS -- Oscar Larios of Mexico and Czar Amonsot of the Philippines both suffered brain bleeds in their hard-fought losses on Saturday night's Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright undercard at Mandalay Bay.

Neither injury, however, is life threatening, according to Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission.

"Both were in very tough fights, but the good news on both guys is that the bleeds are very minimal," Kizer told ESPN.com. "It appears both guys suffered very minor subdural hematomas, but nothing life threatening. There shouldn't be any concern for future treatment or medication. They can both live full and healthy lives, but as far as being a boxer, they are probably done."

Larios, 30, was scheduled to be released from Valley Hospital on Sunday after spending the night for tests and observation.

Larios, a former junior featherweight world champion, has been in many hard-hitting fights during his 13-year professional career. Saturday night's was no different. He was knocked out in the 10th round by 21-year-old prodigy Jorge Linares of Venezuela in their vacant interim featherweight title bout.

Linares dominated the fight until dropping Larios (59-6-1, 37 KOs) with a left-right combination in the 10th round of their scheduled 12-rounder.

Eric Gomez, vice president of Golden Boy Promotions, told ESPN.com that Larios said he planned to retire after the fight before he even knew about the brain bleed.

"He said he was going to talk to his family, but probably retire," Gomez said. "[Manager Rafael] Mendoza said after the fight that he didn't want to see him fight anymore, either."

Amonsot was resting comfortably at Valley Hospital on Sunday.

The 21-year-old southpaw was knocked down twice and lost a decision to Michael Katsidis in their grueling interim lightweight title bout. Both fighters took an enormous amount of punishment in the 12-round battle.

Amonsot took many hard head shots and, like Larios, was sent to the hospital after the fight.

"Our doctors did a great job. I can't praise them enough," Kizer said of physicians Jeff Davidson and David Watson. "They made the call and sent them for tests and observation."

Amonsot had two MRI exams, according to Gomez. He said the first exam was clear, but a second exam taken from a different angle showed "he had a little bit of bleeding. So, they wanted to keep him overnight for observation. They found something very small, but they found something."

Gomez said Amonsot (18-3-1, 10 KOs) never lost consciousness and was feeling OK.

Amonsot was supposed to return to the Philippines on Monday, but Gomez said he would remain in the United States until he is released from the hospital, probably in a couple of days.

"He seemed OK after the fight. He was responsive, but disappointed," Gomez said. "He thought he could have done better if he stuck to his game plan. It was a hell of a fight."

Katsidis knocked Amonsot down in the second and 10th rounds and won by scores of 116-110, 115-111 and 114-112.

Nevada's rules say that a fighter who has suffered a subdural hematoma, no matter how small, can't be licensed in the state.

"They are both indefinitely suspended for medical reasons," Kizer said. "Under our regulations they would not be eligible to be relicensed as a boxer."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

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