Diego Arrua, the husband and trainer of boxing star Sabrina Perez, has passed away a the age of 58 after suffering a heart attack.
Arrua was ringside for his partner’s interim WBC Featherweight title fight against Australia’s Skye Nicolson on Friday night, before suffering a fatal heart attack while in Perez’s corner.
His collapse came between the ninth and 10th rounds of the fight, and he was unfortunately unable to recover.
The tragic news was confirmed by the WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman, on social media, announcing that Arrua had passed away in Tijuana.
‘It is with deep sadness that we have been informed of the sudden death of Argentine coach Diego Arua, who suffered a devastating heart attack during the Sabrina Pérez fight in Tijuana,’ wrote Sulaiman.
Diego Arrua (right) was the trainer and husband to boxing star Sabrina Perez (left)
Arrua suffered a fatal heart attack at the side of the ring of Perez’s interim WBC featherweight title fight with Skye Nicolson
The 58-year-old collapsed during the ninth and 10th rounds of Perez’s defeat on Friday
‘The medical services did everything possible and he died at the QDEP general hospital.’
Perez ultimately lost the fight in a unanimous points decision, but was not in the ring when the result was announced.
She had come into the fight following decision wins over Silvia Fernanda Zararias and Yollis Marrugo Franco, but the defeat to he Australian opponent has seen the WBC’s interim 126lb title slip away.
Sulaiman’s announcement was followed by a tribute from Matchroom Boxing, who offered Perez their ‘thoughts and condolences’.
‘RIP Diego,’ they wrote on X. ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Sabrina Perez and your loved ones.’
The fight was broadcast on DAZN and was part of the Matchroom Boxing Show at Tijuana’s Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutierrez.