Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Andy Ganigan

Boxer Andy Ganigan, a former world champion and member of the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, died today in Las Vegas, according to his niece, Michelle Shue. Ganigan's death comes two years after an assault in his hometown of Waipahu left him severely debilitated. He was 59.

"Since the assault his body can't fight off diseases. He never recovered," Shue said in a telephone interview with the Star-Advertiser. "His body basically just shut down after two years of fighting." She said Ganigan died with family members by his side.

Ganigan was a boxing sensation in the 1970s and 80s, with a 34-5 record, including 30 knockouts and a lightweight division championship. He was named to Ring Magazines' list of  "100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time" in 2003, 20 years after he retired.

But the last two years of his life were spent as a near-invalid after an apparently drunken and unprovoked attack on March 26, 2010.

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