Filipino Sisnorio dies after Bangkok bout

BANGKOK, April 1 (Reuters) Filipino boxer Lito Sisnorio has died after sustaining serious head injuries during a bout against former WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul in Bangkok, hospital officials said today.

Sisnorio, a former WBC youth champion, underwent emergency surgery on Friday to remove a blood clot from his brain after he fell unconscious on his way to dinner several hours after recovering from his fourth-round knockout.

The 24-year-old failed to regain consciousness after surgery and died of heart failure at 9.15pm on Saturday, an official at Bangkok's Piyamin hospital said.

Sisnorio went down in the fourth round after suffering a barrage of right hooks in Friday's super-flyweight bout with 37-year-old Chatchai (59-3), who has won his last six fights, four by knockout or technical knockout.

The Filipino fighter lost his last three fights and was defeated by TKO two months earlier in a tune-up bout with record-breaking Thai flyweight Pongsaklek Wongjongkam.

Sisnorio won just five of his 11 fights since turning professional in 2003.

REUTERS SAM RK1252