Family sues over Fil-Am student’s death after frat boxing match

Nathan Valencia, 20, suffered brain injuries during the match and collapsed afterwards on Nov. 19, 2021. He died four days later. FACEBOOK

LAS VEGAS— Fil-Am student Nathan Valencia, 20, died in November after fighting in a charity boxing match.

Now, his family is suing several defendants including the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and the fraternity that hosted the event.

Among various complaints, the suit alleges that “inadequate and unsafe” equipment were used and there was no physician, or any other medical personnel, observing the event.

Valencia suffered brain injuries during the match and collapsed afterwards on Nov. 19, 2021. He died four days later. His family says he suffered “intense physical and mental pain, disfigurement, shock, and agony” before his death on Nov. 23, 2021.

The lawsuit names Kappa Sigma Fraternity, which began the annual charity boxing event in 2012. Also being sued are seven fraternity members, UNLV, the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Christopher Eisenhauer (who acted as referee), and the Sahara Event Center where the boxing event took place, according to an 8NewsNow report.

The fraternity allegedly knew Eisenhauser had “no experience, training or education” as a referee and was continuously drinking alcohol during the match, yet it didn’t cancel the event.

The suit also notes that student participants in past fight nights held by the fraternity suffered serious injuries, with one knocked-out participant requiring hospital treatment.

Valencia’s family is seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Nevada State Athletic Commission exempted school events such as the boxing match hosted by the fraternity from oversight.

Governor Steve Sisolak on Dec. 13, 2021 signed an emergency regulation — Nathan’s Law — in effect for 120 days, which gives commission oversight of those unregulated events. Later, the athletic commission voted unanimously to make the regulation permanent, according to 8NewsNow.

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