By Lem Satterfield

Adonis Stevenson “suffers from severe traumatic brain injury” which “requires mechanical respiratory assistance, deep sedation and specialized neurological monitoring” according to Dr. Alexis Turgeon, the specialist physician at the Quebec City hospital where the 41-year-old former world light heavyweight champion’s remained since last Saturday’s 11th-round knockout loss to Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Quebec City.

"Mr. Stevenson underwent surgery on the night of Saturday to Sunday and has since been admitted to the intensive care unit. He suffers from severe traumatic brain injury. His situation is still stable under the circumstances, but critical," said Turgeon, of The Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, during a public update on Stevenson.

"His condition requires mechanical respiratory assistance, deep sedation and specialized neurological monitoring. It is too early to comment on Mr. Stevenson's long-term prognosis. I urge the media to be very cautious about distributing medical information that does not come from an official medical source.”

Further, “Mr. Stevenson's family thanks supporters for their many messages of empathy and support over the past few days,” read the release. “They want to be at the bedside of Mr. Stevenson and ask everyone to respect their privacy.”

Stevenson showed serious concussion symptoms when initially admitted, listed in critical condition and placed in a medically induced coma, and later upgraded to stable.

A former WBC champion who was boxing’s oldest and longest-reigning titleholder before losing to Gvozdyk (16-0, 13 KOs), “Superman” Stevenson (29-2-1, 24 KOs) had reigned for nearly 5 ½ years.

Stevenson had gone 16-0-1 with 14 KOs since his lone loss by second-round stoppage to Darnell Boone in April 2010 that he avenged by sixth-round KO in March 2013. Promoted by Yvon Michel, Stevenson entered his fight with Gvozdyk at 9-0-1 with seven KOs in championship bouts, including his title-winning 76-second stoppage of Chad Dawson in June 2013.

On Tuesday, Gvozdyk offered encouragement to Stevenson in a short video.

"Adonis, you are a really strong man, and keep strong,'' said Gvozdyk. "I wish you recover faster. I know you'll pass through it.''