New Zealand boxer David Light recently fought for the WBO cruiserweight title. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand boxer David Light is in an Auckland hospital receiving treatment after suffering from a minor stroke.
The cruiserweight fighter became unwell upon returning home to New Zealand following his bout against Lawrence Okolie for the WBO cruiserweight title in Manchester on 25 March.
Light reported no ill effects in the aftermath of the bout and returned home to New Zealand on 1April.
Just four days later, David sought medical attention and underwent a CT scan which was clear.
The 31-year-old was diagnosed with delayed concussion and discharged.
However, Light continued to have symptoms and on 17 April was admitted to Waitakere Hospital.
A third CT scan revealed a blood clot and Light underwent surgery that night.
It was determined he had a mild stroke and doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
Light's diagnosis hit his Peach Boxing teammates hard.
"It's really hard for all of us to see him like that. He's a guy we are around every day and for something like this to happen, it's devastating for the gym," coach Isaac Peach said.
Following the first loss of his professional career to Okolie in Manchester, Light had returned to the gym before Peach noticed Light had "small" memory loss which triggered him seeking medical attention.
"David came back and hung out in the gym, David didn't come back and train. Obviously David was down when he came back so I think for his mental health to get back in the gym and that doesn't mean training that means being around the environment."
Peach visited Light nearly daily in hospital and he said his fighter was "doing real good" and improving each time he saw him.
The experienced coach said Light was laughing, talking and had watched his fellow Peach Boxing fighters in action during last week's Fight for Life on his laptop in hospital.
This was the first time Peach had had a boxer in Light's condition and he acknowledged there were dangers in the sport.
"A lot will come up because of it's boxing but I think it's rugby, it's league, I think it's every sport and it doesn't happen often but what these guys do is real and it's an unfortunate thing."
As an amateur Light competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, winning a silver medal in the heavyweight division.
