DETROIT -- Houston boxer Joe George Jr. was cleared and released from a Detroit-area hospital Monday morning after he collapsed in his corner in between rounds of his light heavyweight fight against Atif Oberlton on Sunday night.
George and Oberlton, who were part of the Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn undercard, butted heads in the opening round. After the round ended, George fell out of his stool while sitting in his corner as he prepared to take instructions from his trainers.
George regained consciousness but was unable to continue. He was taken to the hospital and underwent an MRI. His promoter Dmitriy Salita told ESPN that George had no reported issues after the incident.
Oberlton, from Philadelphia, was deemed the winner by TKO.
"I think that it affected me mentally, which I already know -- every time I go into the ring, I say a prayer to God, and this is no joke," Oberlton said. "It impacted me in a way that anything can happen."
Oberlton (15-0) instantly embraced George after he regained consciousness. George (13-2) then left the ring on a stretcher.
"Just like, 'I got love for you, bro,'" Oberlton said of what he told George. "It's cool. I just wanted to make sure he was safe."
Oberlton said he was in disbelief when he saw George pass out on the stool. He also said he hopes George is OK moving forward to continue his career.
"I've never seen nothing like that before in my life in the sport of boxing," Oberlton said. "I was really concerned because we all want to go in there and we want to do what we want to do and impose our will on our opponents, but we always want to leave and I'm an advocate for that.
"As a fighter you want to leave the same way you came in."
