By Jake Donovan 

Seven weeks ago, Felipe ‘Gallito’ Orucuta entered a boxing ring hopeful that he could once again fight for a major title.

Fast forward to present day where he’s grateful for a more rewarding opportunity—the chance to go home.

The two-time super flyweight title challenger from Mexico was officially released from María José Roma Hospital in Mexico City on Friday after showing signs of full recovery from life-saving surgery. Orucuta had spent nearly two months in a hospital bed after undergoing emergency surgery to have a blood clot removed from his brain last June.

The near-fatal injury stemmed from a 10th round knockout loss to countryman Jonathan Javier Rodriguez in their bout on June 7 in his hometown of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

First signs of improved health came about just days after being placed in a medically induced coma in order to perform brain surgery. As reported earlier by Boxing Scene.com earlier this week, the 33-year old showed signs of full recovery and was eager for the chance to finally see his own bed once again.

That day has now arrived.

“’Gallito’ has shown major signs of improvement this week,” Jesus Orucuta, Felipe’s brother said in a statement released by the family. “[H]e will continue with the rehabilitation plus recovery at home.”

Orucuta (36-6, 30KOs) came up just short in two shots at then-reigning super flyweight titlist Omar Narvaez. Both fights took place in Narvaez’s native Argentina, where he was considered extremely fortunate to escape with a split decision win and his title still intact following their first bout in May 2013.

The rematch was a bit more decisive, with the visiting challenger failing to capture the same magic that came in his first bid although still offering a credible account of himself in their Sept. 2014 sequel. He’d never come any closer to returning to that stage, suffering sound defeats to countrymen Jose Cayetano and Juan Francisco Estrada among his 10 fights following his title run.

Even if he went on to win a title along the way, no in-ring victory can match what he gets to enjoy today.

“Thanks to God, the love and support of his family, friends, Boxing community and the passion and dedication of all the doctors, today we see Felipe Orucuta recovering completely,” said Mauricio Sulaiman, president of World Boxing Council (WBC), whose regional title was at stake in his last fight and who has remained in close contact with the family every day since that night. “Of course, he would because he is a Champion of life!”

Orucuta remains eternally grateful for the good fight put up by those who worked around the clock to save his life. The news comes as a sigh of relief given recent events. The sport lost two athletes in 28-year old Maxim Dadashev and 23-year old Hugo Santillan earlier in the week following fatal ring injuries sustained in separate fights last weekend.

Additionally, Christian Castillo—the youngest fighting son of former World lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo—remains hospitalized and his health declining after suffering serious injuries during a recent sparring session while preparing for his next fight.

As such, Orucuta’s family fully acknowledges “the attention received at the María José Roma Hospital, the support of the World Boxing Council, Promociones del Pueblo, Dr. Fausto Daniel García, the Telmex Foundation, Miguel Torruco and Eddy Reynoso.” 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox