Irish boxer Lee Reeves has undergone surgery following his devastating knockout defeat to Gary Cully as the boxing community rallied around the hospitalized super lightweight.
Reeves was stretchered from the ring after suffering a dramatic tenth-round stoppage at Dublin’s 3Arena on Saturday night and remains in hospital.
A friend who knows Reeves from his time living and training in Lanzarote described the coming days as crucial.
Lee Reeves
Posting an update, the friend said: “Absolutely awful news about my friend Lee Reeves following his fight on Saturday night.
“I know Lee very well from when he lived here in Lanzarote and trained with Jon O’Brien. He’s the nicest guy you could meet, and everyone here who knows him will be thinking about him.
“Lee has undergone an operation and remains in a stable but critical condition. The next few days are extremely important.
“My thoughts are with Lee, his family and everyone close to him at this very difficult time.
“Keep fighting, Lee.”
Reeves’ opponent, Gary Cully, also posted an emotional message after winning the BUI Celtic super lightweight title.
“Feeling especially grateful to wake up with my family this morning and have a normal Sunday,” wrote Cully.
“I’ll throw up a post addressing the fight in the days to come, but right now my thoughts are with Lee and his family, just praying for his full recovery.
“Thank you to everybody who turned out and showed support as always.”
Community Rallies
The support extended beyond boxing.
Saint Patrick’s Garrison Church in Renmore confirmed prayers were offered for Reeves during Sunday Mass after his hospitalization.
The church described Reeves as a serving soldier with 12 Battalion (Limerick), who completed his recruit and two-star training in 2024 and regularly attended Mass, often reading the Sacred Scriptures.
“He knows the power of prayer and will appreciate your thoughts and prayers as he is being treated in hospital,” the church said.
The mood among supporters also changed overnight. Comments beneath Reeves’ pre-fight Facebook post, which had wished him luck ahead of the biggest fight of his career, quickly turned into messages praying for his recovery.
Promoter Frank Warren had earlier confirmed Reeves remained in hospital, saying everyone at Queensberry was hoping for positive news.
No further official medical update on Reeves’ condition had been issued at the time of writing.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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