AUSTRALIAN boxer Lance Hobson, who collapsed during a fight on Monday night, died in hospital yesterday. A spokesman for Melbourne's Alfred Hospital announced that the former Australian featherweight champion died of complications after sustaining a brain haemorrhage during a fight against Australia-based Liu Gang.

Hobson, 23, was taken to hospital in a coma after falling to the canvas on leaving his corner for the sixth round of the scheduled eight-round bout. He immediately went into spasms after stumbling from his stool and falling prostrate to the canvas with his opponent still in his corner.

An operation to remove a blood clot from the outside of his brain failed to save Hobson. The bout was Chinese-born Liu Gang's professional debut.

Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association (AMA), who have had an anti-boxing policy since 1990, renewed their call for the sport to be outlawed. AMA president Dr David Weedon said his group had a long opposition to boxing and had called for it to be banned in Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

"If anyone throws a punch hard enough, it can kill," Weedon added. "A swinging hook to the side of the jaw is the most dangerous as it causes the head to rotate vertically. All boxers know that a strong punch landing in this area is likely to lead to a win by knockout because of the brain damage this movement produces."

Ringside physician Dr Peter Lewis, who attended to Hobson last night, described the AMA's call a knee-jerk reaction. "At the moment we have very good controls and regulations in the sport and if you ban it, you lose that regulation," he said.

Hobson's father, Robert, does not hold the sport or Hobson's opponent responsible. "Lance has been boxing since he was nine years old, Lance's grandfather was also a boxer, he used to fight over 20 rounds and definitely had his wits about him," said Robert Hobson. "He died at the age of 87.

"When Lance collapsed, Liu Gang held his hand. He was very upset, but shouldn't blame himself."