The final bell never got to ring for Arturo “Lobito” Torres. The 26 year old Mexican boxer passed away on Friday, September 25. This was six days after he went down in the ring following a stoppage loss that no one watching could have guessed would turn fatal.
Torres stepped into the ring at Vicente Guerrero Park in Mexicali on September 19 against boxer Gilberto “Torito” García. He was a 21 year old with a 7-3 record and six knockouts to his name.
Torres entered the bout with 15 wins, 6 losses and 3 draws over a career that began when he turned professional in 2018. He had claimed two regional FECOMBOX titles along the way, one at bantamweight and another at featherweight.
The match reached the seventh round before referee Jaime Ortiz called a halt to the contest, ruling Torres unable to continue. What happened in the moments after has stuck with everyone who watched it live. Torres collapsed in the ring.
Torres was given medical attention ringside before being rushed to Mexicali General Hospital, where doctors performed surgery to address a blood clot on his brain. He was placed into an induced coma, and his family kept a vigil at the hospital as fans across Mexico waited for updates on his condition.
Ángel Torres, Arturo’s brother, spoke publicly in the days that followed to update supporters on his condition. He shared that the surgery had gone well and that his brother remained sedated as he worked to recover. He also made clear that the family was handling the medical costs themselves and was not placing blame on either the promoter or the referee for what happened in the ring.
Despite those efforts and the hope that came with early updates, Torres never woke from the coma. He passed away six days after the bout.
News of his passing spread quickly through the Mexican boxing community, with tributes and condolences pouring in for his family and the friends who had supported him throughout his career. Fans who followed him through his run of regional titles remembered a boxer who represented his hometown of Mexicali with pride.
Drama en el ring cuando Arturo “Lobito” Torres se desmaya después de que su esquina paró la pelea vs “Torito” Garcia. Ángel, hermano de “Lobito” indicó que el boxeador fue operado con éxito, permanece sedado, que ellos cubren todos los gastos pero sin culpar a promotora ni réferi https://t.co/4wPDXAxR1x
— Óscar Mota Aldrete (@mota_sports) September 24, 2026
