Welterweight Oscar Diaz, who collapsed during his bout with Delvin Rodriguez Wednesday, remained in critical condition Thursday after undergoing brain surgery overnight.

Doctors operated to relieve swelling and bleeding on Diaz's brain at San Antonio's University Medical Center.

In a bout for the US Boxing Association regional welterweight title, Diaz rose from his stool to begin the 11th round but wobbled and crashed to the canvas.

Referee Robert Gonzalez immediately called a halt, and medical personnel attended the 25-year-old fighter.

Diaz, a San Antonio native, was stretchered out of the ring and hospitalized.

"Oscar came through surgery well," Ron Katz of Rodriguez promoter Star Boxing told ESPN.com.

"They had to remove the left side of his cranium in order to help the swelling go down, which apparently was very bad," Katz added. "He had a subdural hematoma, which was taken care of.

"During surgery, he apparently showed movement in his arms and his brain pressure was very good, according to the doctor."

Diaz was under heavy sedation following the operation, but was not in a medically induced coma, Katz said.

Prior to his collapse, Diaz - whose record fell to 26-3 as a result of the technical-knockout loss - had suffered considerable damage at the hands of Rodriguez. His right eye was nearly swollen shut.

However, the 28-year-old Rodriguez (23-2-1, 14 KOs) was more concerned about his opponent's well-being than his victory.

AFP.

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