What’s the Buzz: Jeff Fenech banking on Tim Tszyu KO to help pay hospital bills after life-threatening infection
Jeff Fenech will load up on an early Tim Tszyu knockout to help pay the hospital bills from a heart infection that the Australian boxing icon admits nearly killed him.
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Jeff Fenech is banking on Tim Tszyu helping him to pay some expensive medical bills after a fortnight in hospital fighting a heart infection that almost killed the ex-world champion boxer.
He says he will unload with the bookies on Tszyu to knockout Sebastian Fundora in the world title blockbuster at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas today.
“I need some money to pay these f---ing bills,” Fenech said.
“Tim will knock the guy out in the first three rounds. He’ll jump on the other guy and hurt him.
“I’m very confident he’ll stop him early. I’m going to have a decent whack.”
In the TAB round-by-round market for an early stoppage, Tszyu is at $17 for a round 1 stoppage, $15 (Rd 2) and $12 (Rd 3).
Meanwhile Fenech is at home recovering from surgery on his heart, wrist and calf – where the infection spread to.
He sent me photos of the surgery that are too horrible to publish.
“I would wish no-one in the world to go through what I did,” Fenech said. “I could have died.”
The surgery was done in two sessions over 48 hours because Fenech was so weak after the operation on his major heart valve.
“I was waking up at 1am in the middle of the night hallucinating. I rang Susie and said ‘you better get here – I’m going to die’,” he said.
“I was that crook I almost wanted to die. A million per cent I did. The pain was terrible. I would rather fight Mike Tyson than go through this.
“It’s not a nice place in ICU.”
Fenech is now back at home and slowly recovering.
He says messages and phone calls from the likes of Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Manny Pacquiao, James Packer, David Gyngell, Mark Bouris and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold lifted his spirits.
“The support was great and I got through it,” he said.
“Now I just need Tim to knock this guy out!”
PREMIER BACKS TSZYU’S SYDNEY PUSH
Premier Chris Minns is backing moves for boxing superstar Tim Tszyu to hold his next world title blockbuster at Allianz Stadium in front of more than 40,000 fans.
If Tszyu can knock out the ‘Towering Inferno’ Sebastian Fundora at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas today then the discussions will begin for Sydney to this year host its biggest fight in boxing history.
The world’s greatest pound-for-pound fighter, Terence Crawford, would be the likely opponent.
Premier Minns said: “We’d love to bring Tim home. He’s a superstar in the boxing world and a title defence in Sydney would be a box-office attraction.”
The Premier is a combat sports fan, having already done deals for Sydney to host major UFC events.
This would be far bigger, with Allianz Stadium staff suggesting the crowd would match the recent turnouts for the Pink and Elton John concerts at the venue.
Tszyu is excited by the prospect.
“I’ve got a job to do first on Fundora,” he said, “Honestly, I’ll be all ears on what’s next once he’s lying flat on the canvas.
“I’ve thought about things like this since I was a little kid. Selling out arenas, fighting in stadiums in front of huge crowds all over the world – but Sydney is home.
“I’m living out my dreams right now, seeing my name on billboards, magazines and hotels all up and down the Strip. It would be incredible to have that same thing happening back home in Sydney. A proper mega-fight.
“I was at the NRL in Vegas and it was incredible. That stadium was epic and I was on the field thinking … this will be me one day. I’m going to be the guy they’re cheering for when I’m fighting in massive stadiums like this.”
Venues NSW chairman David Gallop loves the idea.
“Allianz would be a spectacular venue to host a Tszyu v Crawford fight,” he said. “I can remember being front and centre for Mundine v Green 20 years ago and I expect an even bigger crowd would turn out for this.
“Imagine a Sunday afternoon bout beaming back into the USA on Saturday night in prime time?
“With the rest of Sydney as a backdrop – a weigh-in at the Opera House – this would be a global sporting event for NSW.”
The Mundine v Green fight that Gallop talks about attracted a crowd of almost 30,000 fans to the old Sydney Football Stadium.
Sources suggest it would cost about $35m to stage Tszyu v Crawford fight. The money would have to come from TV subscriptions in Australia, the US and other countries, sponsorship, corporate sales at the event, NSW Government tourism and fight tickets, some of which would cost close to $10,000 to be ringside.
No Limit promoter Matt Rose says: “It would be sensational.”
RAIDERS STAND DOWN FORGOTTEN STAR
Canberra Raiders have reluctantly stood down Corey Harawira-Naera from all playing and training duties despite a medical specialist clearing him to make a comeback.
The 28-year-old star suffered a shocking seizure against South Sydney last May after an apparent delayed reaction to an earlier head knock — an incident that distressed players and fans.
It turned out to be a heart condition and the former Kiwi Test forward now has a defibrillator attached inside his body — just under his arm — as part of the new health reality he faces.
The Raiders’ experienced chief medical officer Greg McLeod is concerned.
In a statement from Canberra, a spokesman says: “In the opinion of our club CMO, Corey would be exposed by playing the game to a greater than usual risk of injury.
“The Canberra Raiders believe that in order to protect Corey’s health and wellbeing, and the club’s position, we were left with no alternative but to stand him down from training and playing immediately.”
Harawira-Naera is now seeking a second opinion from a sports cardiologist.
He remains on full pay on his $600,0000-a-season contract that has two years to run.
Coach Ricky Stuart spoke on Friday of his disappointment.
“Corey’s a good person and a very important part of our club,” Stuart said.
“At this stage, we will keep him involved as the blue shirt with the NSW Cup team and we want him to start work in our welfare department.”
Stuart says it’s too early to even discuss salary cap compensation or a medical retirement.
“I haven’t even thought about it,” he said, “and that’s the truth.
“The first priority is Corey and his health and always will be … the same as any other player at this club.
“I commend our doctor on the very careful process he has undertaken in trying to give Corey every opportunity.”
The Raiders are expected to have talks with the NRL chief medical officer in coming weeks.
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