Patrick Day (August 9, 1992 – October 16, 2019)^[2] was an American professional boxer. He died from brain trauma sustained in a knockout loss against Charles Conwell.

Early life and education

Day was born to Haitian immigrants in Freeport, New York, and was the youngest of four sons. His father was a doctor who used to box as a child, while his mother, Lyssa, was a translator at the United Nations.^[3] During his professional boxing career, he earned an associate degree in nutrition from Nassau Community College, and a bachelor's degree in health and wellness from Kaplan University.^[4]

Career

Day started boxing in 2006 under the guidance of former firefighter and boxing trainer Joe Higgins.^[3] In 2012, he won the New York Golden Gloves tournament.^[5] His amateur record was 75–5, including two national amateur championships. He was recognized as the number-one ranked amateur boxer in the United States in the 152-pound division, and served as a 2012 United States Olympic team alternate.^[6]

Day rose to be a top-10 ranked light middleweight for the WBC and IBF. He also captured the regional WBC Continental Americas light middleweight title.^[7] Day won 17 of his 22 professional fights, with four defeats and one draw.^[8]

Death

Day suffered a traumatic brain injury during a knockout loss to Charles Conwell in a USBA super welterweight title bout on October 12, 2019, and died four days later.^[9]

Boxing announcer Michael Buffer described Day as a "wonderful young man" and that "everyone in the boxing community is crushed", while WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said boxing had lost a "brave, kind and wonderful friend".^[8] Conwell posted an open letter online that expressed his sorrow and regret.^[8]

Professional boxing record