ORLANDO, Fla.,None — A woman has died days after she was knocked unconscious during an amateur kickboxing tournament in Orlando. The Orange County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday morning that she succumbed to her injury.
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WFTV learned the woman is 34-year-old Adrienne Simmons (see photos) and spoke to her boyfriend Monday, who said she was on her way to becoming a teacher and loved fighting.
"She wanted to fight because she wanted to feel stronger, because in the past she didn't feel as strong as she wanted to," boyfriend Chike Ajudua told WFTV (watch full interview).
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that Simmons, who is from Atlanta, was participating in the International Kickboxing Match held at an Orlando hotel on Sunday. The tournament is sponsored by the International Kickboxing Federation.
During the third round of a three-round fight against Lindsay Scheer, Simmons received a left hook, which knocked her unconscious.
Kickboxer in Ring Close 072710 »» Images Of Kickboxer In Action, At Play »» Kickboxer's Boyfriend Talks To WFTV Ajudua and Simmons' trainer were upset because there was no medical staff at the fight.
"The swelling could have been stopped earlier. I'm sure that could have been avoided," Ajudua said.
Steve Fossom, who organized the fight, said he arranged for emergency crews from a nearby fire station to be on standby, but they weren't present at the event.
"Because they were so close and it was so easy to get to. They could be there in a two to three minute call time," Fossom told WFTV.
Simmons was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office investigated the circumstances surrounding the fight. No criminal charges have been filed.
Fossom told WFTV it was one of the first incidents like it his organization has experienced.
WFTV
