The boxing community mourns the death of Kenneth Egano, who passed away on Wednesday afternoon, four days after falling into a coma.
The 22-year-old boxer collapsed on Saturday after his fight against Jason Facularin in Imus, Cavite, under the Blow by Blow boxing program.
No one is in deeper sorrow than Anabelle Egano, Kenneth's mother, who is especially fond of how the Saranggani fighter was a good and diligent son.
“Bakit siya pa kinuha? Ang bait ng anak ko. Pagdating sa training, nakaayos ang gamit sa bahay. Mabait, masunurin, walang kaaway,” Egano told News5.
“Hindi ko matanggap. Ang hirap na iwanan ka ng anak mo na mabait pa, walang bisyo.”
There's no way to describe the pain in Anabelle's heart, and perhaps it bears more sting not just because she was the mother, but because she was also against Kenneth getting into boxing.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, huwag na siya mag-boxing. 'Mag-aral ka nang mabuti kasi mahirap ang boxing,'" said Anabelle on what she told her son before.
But Kenneth declined her mother's request.
"Hindi. Ayaw ko huminto, Ma, kasi ‘yun ang buhay ko," Anabelle recalled on what her son told her in response.
The Games and Amusement Board (GAB) has expressed condolences to the Egano family. The sports body has also promised to help expedite the processing of documents to bring Kenneth's remains back to General Santos City immediately.
“Nakipagtulungan po tayo sa local government para lahat ng permits maibigay,” said Atty. Richard Clarin, GAB chairman.
Clarin also mentioned that former senator Manny Pacquiao, who is behind Blow by Blow, has assured that they will not abandon the Egano family and will provide for their needs.
The GAB official earlier pointed out that they did not find any irregularity in the match nor in how the incident involving Egano was handled, but they are not yet closing the case as of now. They will also continue to monitor if the doctors will have further findings on what transpired with Egano's health.
“Sa ngayon, talagang wala tayong nakitang irregularities from start to finish. Kasi po 'yung medical checklist po natin sinisigurado natin kumpleto, at healthy po 'yung boksingero at capable to fight,” said Clarin.
(With reports from Dave Abuel, News5)
(GM)