‘I feel s**thouse’: Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech hospitalised with mystery infection

Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech was rushed to hospital after the four-weight world champion was knocked out by a mystery illness.

Jeff Fenech has been KO'ed by a "mystery infection". Photo: Richard Dobson and Supplied

Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech has been rushed to hospital for urgent tests after revealing he has had a high temperature for the past 12 days.

CODE Sports reports doctors are examining Fenech’s heart and adjoining valves after the 59-year-old had a temperature of nearly 40.

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A badly swollen wrist is also concerning for Fenech, as doctors believe it could be linked to a heart condition.

Fenech has previously had heart issues, undergoing lifesaving heart surgery in Bangkok in 2019 to replace an infected heart valve after he was rushed to hospital after coughing up blood.

Fenech told CODE Sports: “I feel shithouse. I’m as sick as a dog. I have a mystery infection. I’m sick of it.

“They think it has something to do with my heart and valves. They have done heaps of tests. I don’t yet know what the results are.

“I came to hospital during the day on Tuesday. I have had a high temperature for more than 12 days now. It was 39.8.

“I hope I don’t need surgery but I don’t know. I hope not, I hope not.

“I also have a really bad infection in my wrist and they think it could be heart related. If you see my wrist you’d die, it’s massive. It’s red, inflamed, swollen and sore.

“It could be an infection coming from the valves which has spread through my body. They don’t know yet.

“Of course I’m worried, of course I am. I don’t want another operation. F**k that.”

Get well soon champion. Photo: Supplied

Jeff Fenech with his four belts. Picture: Richard Dobson

Fenech was meant to undergo a hernia operation last week.

The report adds “those close to Fenech are concerned by his condition”.

Fenech became a four-weight world champion in November 2022 when the WBC overturned his 1991 draw against Ghana’s Azumah Nelson.

The fight was deemed a split draw.

The judges had it 115-113 to Fenech, 112-116 to Nelson and 114-114-all after a brutal 12 rounds of super featherweight boxing. But Fenech and many fans long believed the Aussie had won the fight, and as many as nine rounds.

Even the fans in the stadium booed the result.

“It was total bullc**p – I’ve been robbed,” Fenech said at the time.

“The whole world knows I won.”

Fenech went on to fight Nelson again in 1992 but was knocked out in the eight round.

The pair completed the trilogy in 2008, long after both men’s retirement in a majority draw.

Fenech is a regular member of the Fox Sports boxing commentary team but will obviously not feature in Wednesday night’s Goodman-Schleibs pay-per-view on Main Event.