PizDoff
3/30/2006 10:02am,
Boxer Mesi Ready to Make Comeback
By PEDRO ZAYAS, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 29, 8:21 PM ET
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Heavyweight fighter Joe Mesi begins his comeback this weekend from a serious head injury and two years of countless medical examinations and courtroom battles.
The 32-year-old had his license suspended after suffering at least two subdural hematomas — brain bleeds — in an unanimous decision over Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas in March 2004. In his first fight since then, he will face 41-year-old journeyman Ron Bellamy (14-4-4) on Saturday.
"I'm tired of talking about doctors and visiting doctors. And I've given more blood and taken more MRIs in the last few years than I could possibly count," Mesi told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "In a perfect world if everything goes well Saturday, I want to fight in a month. I want to stay very active this year. I lost two years that will never be given back to me."
Mesi (29-0), a native of suburban Buffalo, N.Y., was ranked No. 1 among heavyweight contenders in the World Boxing Council before his suspension.
"He's not 100 percent," said Mesi's father and manager, Jack Mesi. "That's why it's an eight-round fight. We have to bring him back slow. Let him climb the ladder little by little. But this is the beginning of our run for the roses."
The head injury led to Mesi's indefinite suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Mesi had the suspension overturned through a court order in December. While suspended, Mesi was barred from fighting anywhere in the United States, including Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
"It's not a risk," said Mesi, who was cleared to fight by about 10 specialists. "I don't think that it is after all the research, after all the precautions. I've seen the best doctors in the world ... I want a championship that bad. Not enough to risk my life, no. I'm not risking my life. I'm only at the same risk as my opponent."
Jack Mesi said his son's comeback is not about money.
"In two year's time we saw as many doctors as we did lawyers," he said. "I haven't had any doubts since several weeks after the Jirov fight. No doubts. I wouldn't be here if I had a doubt, no matter how small. We wouldn't pursue it."
Mesi, who was relatively inactive during his suspension, trained intensely during the past 10 weeks in Houston and Puerto Rico, where he worked with local trainers from the De Leon family. He also trained on the island in 1997 before his professional debut and in 2000.
"I know some people are tuning in for different reasons: to see me win, to see me lose, to see me get injured," Mesi added. "I'm going to be the next world champion. This was just a small setback, and once again I've gotten over another obstacle."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060330/ap_on_sp_bo_ne/box_mesi_comeback;_ylt=AmL54Uauq_g7xOkp29lelOM7z7Q F;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--
If it isn't for the money.....is it for the glory?
By PEDRO ZAYAS, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 29, 8:21 PM ET
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Heavyweight fighter Joe Mesi begins his comeback this weekend from a serious head injury and two years of countless medical examinations and courtroom battles.
The 32-year-old had his license suspended after suffering at least two subdural hematomas — brain bleeds — in an unanimous decision over Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas in March 2004. In his first fight since then, he will face 41-year-old journeyman Ron Bellamy (14-4-4) on Saturday.
"I'm tired of talking about doctors and visiting doctors. And I've given more blood and taken more MRIs in the last few years than I could possibly count," Mesi told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "In a perfect world if everything goes well Saturday, I want to fight in a month. I want to stay very active this year. I lost two years that will never be given back to me."
Mesi (29-0), a native of suburban Buffalo, N.Y., was ranked No. 1 among heavyweight contenders in the World Boxing Council before his suspension.
"He's not 100 percent," said Mesi's father and manager, Jack Mesi. "That's why it's an eight-round fight. We have to bring him back slow. Let him climb the ladder little by little. But this is the beginning of our run for the roses."
The head injury led to Mesi's indefinite suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Mesi had the suspension overturned through a court order in December. While suspended, Mesi was barred from fighting anywhere in the United States, including Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
"It's not a risk," said Mesi, who was cleared to fight by about 10 specialists. "I don't think that it is after all the research, after all the precautions. I've seen the best doctors in the world ... I want a championship that bad. Not enough to risk my life, no. I'm not risking my life. I'm only at the same risk as my opponent."
Jack Mesi said his son's comeback is not about money.
"In two year's time we saw as many doctors as we did lawyers," he said. "I haven't had any doubts since several weeks after the Jirov fight. No doubts. I wouldn't be here if I had a doubt, no matter how small. We wouldn't pursue it."
Mesi, who was relatively inactive during his suspension, trained intensely during the past 10 weeks in Houston and Puerto Rico, where he worked with local trainers from the De Leon family. He also trained on the island in 1997 before his professional debut and in 2000.
"I know some people are tuning in for different reasons: to see me win, to see me lose, to see me get injured," Mesi added. "I'm going to be the next world champion. This was just a small setback, and once again I've gotten over another obstacle."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060330/ap_on_sp_bo_ne/box_mesi_comeback;_ylt=AmL54Uauq_g7xOkp29lelOM7z7Q F;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--
If it isn't for the money.....is it for the glory?