John Riggins vs. Alejandro Lavorante

John Riggins 193 lbs beat Alejandro Lavorante 212 lbs by KO in round 6 of 10

• Date: 1962-09-21
• Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: Tommy Hart

Lavorante was winning the fight all the way until the end of the 5th round, when a right hand from Riggins hurt him and sent him spinning. In the 6th round, Lavorante was still dazed and was wobbling from light taps. A left hook finally sent Lavorante to the canvas, where he was counted out. After attempts to revive Lavorante were unsuccessful by commisson doctor Robert Rocke, a stretcher was brought into the ring, and he was removed ten minutes after the knockout.^[1]

Lavorante was taken to California Hospital, where he lapsed into a coma. On September 23rd he underwent emergency brain surgery for four hours, to relieve a blood clot on the left side of his brain. Lavorante also had three areas of bleeding on his brain. Following the operation, an emergency tracheotomy was also performed. ^[2] During October of 1962, Lavorante would be in a light coma, and was able to move his body when given commands in Spanish by his mother, as well as feed himself in November, even though he was still unconscious.^[3]

By January 1963, Lavorante was able to stand and speak words, and respond to stimuli through reflex reaction. However, he could still not open his eyes.^[4] His parents who came to stay at his side would have him flown to his home country of Argentina on May 4, 1963.^[5] Lavorante never regained full consciousness and died on April 1, 1964 in Mendoza, Argentina.

Lavorante had been ranked as high as #3 in the Heavyweight division prior to his March 30, 1962 loss to Archie Moore. Lavorante had tired badly in the Moore bout, and was eventually rescued by the referee and carried out on a stretcher. He was then stopped in five one-sided rounds by Cassius Clay on July 20, 1962. Odds: Lavorante 2-to-1 favorite^[6]

Sources

• "Fighter Lavorante in Coma After Bout", September 22, 1962 Los Angeles Times
• ^ "Lavorante KOd, May be Badly Hurt", September 22, 1962 Los Angeles Times
• ^ "Lavo Faces Spoiler Foe in Riggins", September 21, 1962 Los Angeles Times
• ^ "Lavorante Wages Battle For Life", September 23, 1962 Los Angeles Times
• ^ "Lavorante to Undergo Psycho-Thearpy Test", December 1, 1962 Los Angeles Times
• ^ "Lavorante Can Stand but He's Still in Coma", January 19, 1963 Los Angeles Times
• ^ "Lavorante and Parents to Fly to Argentina", May 4, 1963 Los Angeles Times