Adam Zugec says thereB次元官网网址檚 a common saying among boxing and mixed martial arts trainers that fighters need to be protected from themselves.

B次元官网网址淢y job as a coach is to make sure that fighters donB次元官网网址檛 put themselves in positions where they could get hurt,B次元官网网址� he said.

On Friday night in Edmonton, Zugec was in Victoria resident Adam BraidwoodB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址� 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 wasnB次元官网网址檛 familiar with HagueB次元官网网址檚 coaching situation.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had people decide to not train with me because I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 let them fight, and IB次元官网网址檓 okay with that B次元官网网址� 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,B次元官网网址� he said.

Days later, the events that transpired that night still didnB次元官网网址檛 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

B次元官网网址� Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah)

B次元官网网址淚 really am at a loss. IB次元官网网址檝e lost a friend and I think right now weB次元官网网址檙e just really concerned for TimB次元官网网址檚 family and weB次元官网网址檙e concerned for [Braidwood],B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗ereB次元官网网址檚 a guy thatB次元官网网址檚 changing his life through boxing and now this happens.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淚 take responsibility for everything that I did,B次元官网网址� he told the Montreal Gazette earlier this year.

B次元官网网址淚 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. IB次元官网网址檒l never really be proud of myself.B次元官网网址�

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 HagueB次元官网网址檚 family and asking the public to support them.

B次元官网网址淭im and I were friends. We spoke beforehand. We just wanted to make a beautiful fight for everyone,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚 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 B次元官网网址榯hatB次元官网网址檚 it, IB次元官网网址檓 done. IB次元官网网址檓 never coaching a professional fighter again,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Zugec said.

B次元官网网址淎t least in my experience itB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com