A bare knuckle fighter died aged 38 after suffering a 19-second knockout loss in a recent bout

• American fighter Justin Thornton has died aged 38 after a recent knockout loss.
• An MMA competitor, Thornton was KO'd in 19 seconds during a bare knuckle fight in August.
• He was taken to hospital partially paralyzed. His death was confirmed Tuesday.

Bare knuckle fighter Justin Thornton died aged 38 after suffering a 19-second knockout loss in an August bout.

Thornton fought Dillon Cleckler in a heavyweight match during a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, two months ago.

A former MMA competitor, Thornton charged at Cleckler with his fists swinging, but was countered by a hard left hand, and dropped head-first to the canvas.

The referee waved the bout off in an instant as Thornton was clearly unconscious.

A statement on his Facebook account indicated that he was taken to hospital, on a ventilator, and partially paralyzed.

He died on Monday, October 4.

"We are very sad to learn of the passing of one of our fighters, Justin Thornton, who competed at BKFC 20 on August 20, 2021," a statement from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president David Feldman said Tuesday.

-Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) October 5, 2021

"We join the rest of the combat sports community in sending our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones," Feldman added.

"We have spoken to his family, given them our condolences, and let them know they have our full support through this trying time."