Boxer Dies After Gulf Coast Fight

Alabama Mississippi A local boxer may not get back in the ring after his opponent dies during a match at Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Tue, July 28, 2009 - 3:49 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, July 28, 2009 - 7:52 pm CST

A local boxer says he may never get back in the ring after his last fight ended with tragedy.

Bobby O'Bannon, 24, doesn't remember much about the Friday night fight at Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis.

"The fight is a bad dream somebody told me about," says O'Bannon, a 251 pound Mobile native.

His opponent, Francisco "Pancho" Moncivais of Laurel, Miss., weighed in at 288 pounds before the fight. Through the first three rounds, Moncivais was winning. Then, 1:39 into the fourth round, O'Bannon delivered a knock-out punch even he didn't know he could throw.

Two hits to the head dropped Moncivais, a two-time amateur national champion, to the mat. Within seconds he uttered what would be his last words.
"He reached and took his mouth piece," said long-time boxing manager Eddie Surrett. "He just said 'man he can hit', and that was his last words he said."

Surrett, who manages O'Bannon, says this is the first time in his 25 year career that he's seen a boxer die as a result of a fight.

O'Bannon, who called the incident a "worst case scenario", hasn't decided whether he'll get back in the ring.

Patrick Turner of the Mississippi Athletic Commission said Moncivais' death was an accident. “He (Moncivais) and Bobby are the kind of fighters that make boxing great because of their attitude and their work ethic,” said Turner.

A memorial fund to benefit Moncivais' family has been established. Donations can be mailed to:
Mississippi Athletic Commission
"Pancho Memorial Fund"
P.O. Box 720820
Byram, MS 39272

Port City MMA, the facility where O'Bannon works out, is also hosting a fundraiser in memory of Moncivais on August 15.

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