Adam Zugec says there香蕉视频直播檚 a common saying among boxing and mixed martial arts trainers that fighters need to be protected from themselves.

香蕉视频直播淢y job as a coach is to make sure that fighters don香蕉视频直播檛 put themselves in positions where they could get hurt,香蕉视频直播� he said.

On Friday night in Edmonton, Zugec was in Victoria resident Adam Braidwood香蕉视频直播檚 corner when the fighter delivered what proved to be a fatal blow to Tim Hague in the second round of their heavyweight bout. Hague, an ex-UFC fighter who had reportedly been knocked out in a fight as recently as December, died two days later.

Rip brother you will live in my heart forever. I will fight for us both now, I know that's what you would have wanted.

香蕉视频直播� Adam Braidwood (@BraidwoodBoxing)

Zugec, who trains fighters out of Zuma Martial Arts and Fitness in Vic West, spoke to the importance of the relationship between trainer and fighter in an interview with Black Press on Tuesday, while making it clear that he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 familiar with Hague香蕉视频直播檚 coaching situation.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e had people decide to not train with me because I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 let them fight, and I香蕉视频直播檓 okay with that 香蕉视频直播� I treat every situation that my fighters are in as though they could die and I think when you take it that seriously, you take precautions,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Days later, the events that transpired that night still didn香蕉视频直播檛 feel real for Zugec, who says he gave Hague a hug and wished him well moments before the start of the fateful bout.

I can't believe Tim Hague has died. I'm so very sorry to his family and everyone close to him. Tragic and upsetting

香蕉视频直播� Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah)

香蕉视频直播淚 really am at a loss. I香蕉视频直播檝e lost a friend and I think right now we香蕉视频直播檙e just really concerned for Tim香蕉视频直播檚 family and we香蕉视频直播檙e concerned for [Braidwood],香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淗ere香蕉视频直播檚 a guy that香蕉视频直播檚 changing his life through boxing and now this happens.香蕉视频直播�

Braidwood, a former first overall pick of the Edmonton Eskimos, took up boxing after serving time in prison for a sexual assault charge. By all accounts, the 32 year-old has gotten his life together since then and found redemption in the ring.

香蕉视频直播淚 take responsibility for everything that I did,香蕉视频直播� he told the Montreal Gazette earlier this year.

香蕉视频直播淚 have guilt about the whole thing. A lot of people have to live with the damage [I inflicted]. I hurt a lot of people I care about. I香蕉视频直播檒l never really be proud of myself.香蕉视频直播�

Braidwood appeared to be on the verge of tears when he put out a video statement on his Instagram account yesterday offering his condolences to Hague香蕉视频直播檚 family and asking the public to support them.

香蕉视频直播淭im and I were friends. We spoke beforehand. We just wanted to make a beautiful fight for everyone,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Zugec says that he, Braidwood and fellow trainer Sarah Kaufman have leaned on each other over the past few days and that they are receiving counselling. He added that the support Braidwood has received from the public has helped.

香蕉视频直播淚 think the support has made all the difference in the world. It would be so easy for someone to succumb to something like this, and I know I did. My first reaction was 香蕉视频直播榯hat香蕉视频直播檚 it, I香蕉视频直播檓 done. I香蕉视频直播檓 never coaching a professional fighter again,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Zugec said.

香蕉视频直播淎t least in my experience it香蕉视频直播檚 been 100 per cent support [from] people really authentically hurting for us, knowing that we are all friends and that we were friends with Tim and that this is the last thing we wanted.香蕉视频直播�

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com