What’s the Buzz: Andrew Voss needed emergency surgery to avoid going blind
One fighter is looking to break into the US market, the other is effectively out to secure his future. Over four months after it was postponed, the much-anticipated Jeff Horn v Tim Tszyu is just six weeks away.
Opinion
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Rugby league’s No.1 commentator Andrew Voss has had emergency surgery to save the sight in his right eye.
The Fox Sports star was told by Sydney Eye Hospital specialists he could potentially have gone blind within two weeks had he not undergone surgery on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old caller feared for his broadcasting career when X-rays revealed he had three tears on his retina that were leaking blood and threatening his eyesight.
“My advice to everyone is if something odd develops with your eye, don’t delay,” Voss said. “Get it checked as quickly as possible.”
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Voss went to work on Tuesday to film an episode of The Fan, despite having floating lines around his right eye. Gradually it got worse and became a blur.
“The vision out of my right eye was like fog,” he said. “I was going downhill fast. I couldn’t drive. They sent me straight to emergency at Sydney Eye Hospital.
“I had blood and membrane leaking behind my eye. I was lucky Professor Andrew Chang made room for me straight away.
“He told me that my vision would have gone black within four days, and that I would have been blind in two weeks.”
Remarkably, Voss still called the Cowboys v Roosters match on Thursday night – wearing his wife’s glasses – and then returned on Friday morning for a second round of treatment.
He also called Saturday night’s Raiders v Storm game.
He will see Professor Chang next week to determine if more surgery is needed.
Voss’ family has a history of glaucoma – a disease that can cause early blindness. He has his eyes checked yearly.
TSZYU V HORN IN TOWNSVILLE MEGA FIGHT
Promoters have finally set a date for the biggest showdown in Australian boxing since the original Anthony Mundine v Danny Green fight in 2008.
Former world champion Jeff Horn will fight Tim Tszyu on August 26, a Wednesday night, at the new Townsville Stadium in front of an anticipated 15,000 fans and a massive Main Event audience.
The fight was originally scheduled for April 22 but was abandoned because of COVID-19.
Fox Sports will cover the fight and have already begun shooting promotional footage of the boxers in their gyms.
It’s a massive fight for both fighters for crucial reasons. Tszyu — the son of Kostya — has to win to make it into the US, where his father was so well known, to get a crack at a world title.
Horn’s career is on the line. He beat Michael Zerafa impressively in December, but may be forced into retirement if he loses to Tszyu in August.
HE’S A KEEPER
Winger Matt Ikuvalu didn’t need the spectacular five-try performance on Thursday night to convince coach Trent Robinson he had a solid future at the Sydney Roosters.
Two weeks ago the Robinson extended his contract for another two seasons. He is not only a good player but a very decent person who fits into the club’s “no dickheads” policy perfectly.
REFS & RESTARTS ARE WAY APART
Here’s proof of inconsistency in the refereeing ranks around the policing of the new six-again restarts.
The figures clearly show some whistle blowers are much harsher than others.
Going into this weekend, grand final ref Ben Cummins had ruled only six per game, while Adam Gee and Chris Buttler had more than 10.
Referees will never entirely be on the same page in making decisions in an area of the game that is so subjective.
Yet fans and teams are entitled to get consistency wrestling or interference at the play the ball.
ADRIAN A GIANT OF AAP
GWS Giants coach Lion Cameron is a class act. On Thursday the coach took time out to acknowledge the contribution of veteran AAP journo Adrian Warren, who is leaving the newswire after 34 years.
Warren has covered the Giants since day one. His stories have been read by tens of millions of fans across the country about the rise of the western Sydney team.
Warren will be sadly missed. He is the most versatile sports journo in the business.
THAT’S OUT OF THE BLUE
The late and great Richie Benaud didn’t always wear the famous cream jacket on Channel 9’s cricket coverage. We watched an old Australia v Sri Lanka one-dayer on Fox Sports during the week from the 1980s where the legendary commentator wore this blue one instead. It was a couple of years before Kerry Packer told his wardrobe department to go with the beige.
FOUL MOUTH FORM
It was no great surprise in the refereeing ranks that Manly Sea Eagles prop Addin Fonua-Blake was the player to abuse Grant Atkins at Brookvale last week with his shocking tirade.
Fonua-Blake has a reputation in the game for being disrespectful around the referees with constant chatter and insults in their direction during games.
No amount of Sea Eagles spin can take away from the fact that this bloke needs to pull his head in.