A fraternity boxing match for charity turned tragic following the death of a 20-year-old University of Nevada, Las Vegas student who took part in the annual event.
Nathan Valencia died on November 23, four days after participating in the main event at Kappa Sigma fraternity's Fight Night, an off-campus event intended to raise money for a youth boxing club.
University President Keith Whitfield said Valencia collapsed soon after his fight and was taken to a hospital. An official cause of death has not been released, though reports indicate he died of brain injuries.
"We are shocked and heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own," Whitfield said in a statement. "Coping with the loss of life is always difficult, especially under these circumstances."
Whitfield added that the university would commit "all available resources to review the incident and determine how off-campus events like these can be as safe as possible."
Valencia was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and not Kappa Sigma, which organized the event. Sigma Alpha Epsilon said Valencia showed nothing but love.
"His strength and kindness never went unseen and we were so thankful to have him as a brother," the fraternity said on Instagram.
Kappa Sigma did not issue an official statement on the incident. However, in an email to CNN, fraternity executive director Mitchell B. Wilson said the fraternity was "greatly saddened" by Valencia's death.
"Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the Valencia family and the entire UNLV community," Wilson said.
Attorneys for Valencia's family said their preliminary investigation reveals that mistakes were made and safety precautions were overlooked.
"We will be completing a full investigation to determine how UNLV and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity could allow and promote an event like this to take place," the Richard Harris Law Firm said in a statement. "College students should not be placed in a situation where they are pitted against each other for combat."
The attorneys went on to say they will "leave no stone unturned to determine how a 20-year-old ended up in a school-sanctioned amateur fight that cost him his life."
A GoFundMe for Valencia's family describes him as making an impact on anyone he met and having a smile that lit up every room he walked into.
"Nathan was the kind of person who put others before himself," the fundraiser reads. "Nathan was never not smiling. Whether he was out with friends, at a festival, at the gym, or playing video games there was always a smile on his face that radiated throughout the room."
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