By Michael J Jones
LIVEFIGHT recently had the great pleasure of talking to inspirational teenager Jamie Wood. In the last few years Jamie has gone through more trauma and suffering than some people do in a lifetime. A promising amateur fighter who won six of eight contests, Jamie was involved in a motorcycle accident aged 15 that stalled his boxing aspirations. Upon regaining fitness, Wood, still just 17-years-old, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer after suffering excruciating pain in the roof of his mouth.
Jamie’s story since diagnosis has reached almost legendary proportions as the brave lad has fought his illness head-on refusing to give up even a shred of hope in his fight against the cruellest of illnesses. Supported greatly by a loving family unit headed by mother Tracy, Jamie has been embraced warmly by the boxing community, even meeting some of his heroes such as Welsh star Joe Calzaghe and former two-time heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon. Jamie, who boxed for Pinewood Starr ABC before his troubles, trained nearly all of the way through his many bouts of chemotherapy and still, unbelievably, has aspirations of winning an ABA title before turning pro.
It is little wonder Jamie’s boxing hero is Arturo Gatti; a fighter universally known for his grit and determination. When speaking to Jamie it is hard not to be moved by his courage. He was stayed strong through a nightmare period that could have consumed him.
Before Christmas, Jamie endured a twelve-hour operation to reconstruct parts of his mouth and face that had been damaged when his tumour was removed. It is hoped the Guildford teen will now make a full and deserved recovery.
Here’s what Jamie had to say-
LF) Hey Jamie how are you feeling today?
JW) Hi Mike, I'm feeling very good today thank you.
LF) For the benefit of those that are unfamiliar with your inspirational story, could you talk a little about the time you were first diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma?
JW) Well, I was sparring in the gym like normal and on the way home I had a very very bad headache, the pain was unbearable. When I got home I just took some pain killers and thought nothing of it, then in the early hours of the morning I couldn't take the pain no more, plus I had a lump on the roof of my mouth which I just thought was an ulcer. I got a bit worried so I said to my mum we need to go to the hospital and get it checked out. When we arrived at the hospital I was checked over and had a C.T scan over my face and they found the tumour rapped around my right sinuses which was about four centimetres big and still growing so we was lucky we caught it at the right time. Then I had to do a biopsy whilst I was awake, they had to cut through my mouth to get to the tumour to take a piece of it. The pain was so bad where I was sat in a chair I squeezed the arm rests so hard I broke them. It was meant to be a minor operation, in the end it was so bad I was admitted to the ward with morphine. Once they had the results of what the tumour was, they sat me and my mum and dad in a room and I knew straight away this wasn't going to be good. Then two guys walked in and said to me "I'm sorry to tell you, you have been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer (Ewing’s sarcoma)”. I just looked up and said “what have we got to do to get rid of this horrible thing?”
Obviously my whole family was upset, but I knew it was down to me to fight this and that made them feel a bit better knowing I wasn't going to let it get me down.
LF) The diagnosis came at a time when you building up your amateur boxing record; you continued to train through most of your treatment. How do you feel the fight training has helped your recovery after the many bouts of chemotherapy?
JW) Yes it couldn't of come at a worst time, I was in full training, training six days a week twice a day, I was super fit and getting ready for the championships. That's the main reason why I didn't want to stop my training. Once I started having the chemotherapy I was beginning to feel very weak and tired and I couldn't do nothing for a few months. One day I thought to myself “I can't cope sitting around anymore”, so I started going back up to my boxing club to do some light training to keep myself ticking over. I couldn't do half much (exercise) as I used too but at least I was making an effort to keep in shape and it was helping me mentally and physically to get through the intense treatment. Everyone couldn't believe it was me they all thought I would be at home resting. I was so determined not to let this illness get in the way of my boxing. I've earned so much respect for my determination from loads of people and I hope to inspire and help other cancer sufferers along the way.
LF) You had to have chemotherapy to have the tumour shrunk before being removed early last year, then a 12-hour operation to reconstruct your mouth last November. What is the current situation regarding your condition?
JW) Yes that's correct, I had to have eight courses of very strong chemotherapy which lasted over four days every three weeks, then I had to have a major operation to remove the tumour along with the pallet of my mouth, my right sinuses and eight front teeth. After that I had to have another eight courses of chemotherapy which was slightly weaker but still very aggressive, just to make sure there was no more cancer cells left in my body. After all that, the surgeons planned a major reconstruction so that I could still have a boxing career, which they were very positive that I could still have one. I had a major thirteen-hour operation under the hands of ten surgeons to take a piece of my left shoulder blade and some soft tissue around it to replace the roof of my mouth, which is amazing. My condition after the operation was critical I was in intensive care for a day and then I was admitted to a ward. I couldn't get out of bed for a few days and the doctors thought I was going to be in there for a very long time, but then suddenly I made a dramatic change I started to get up by myself. It was almost like I wasn’t even meant to be in there and I was allowed to leave after six days which everyone thinks it quite remarkable being that I'd just had a major operation.
LF) Can you talk a little about the support you have received during your battle with Cancer; in particular from close family and famous fighters from around the world?
JW) Well firstly my family they have been like a rock over the last fifteen months I don't know what I would do without them. I have had loads of support from the whole boxing world from fighters, to promoters, to trainers, which is a privilege to meet and become friends with each and everyone of them. I've even been made a member of the WBC by the chairman himself Jose Sulaiman which is an honour.
LF) In between your treatment, last October, you fought Kevin Mitchell in a charity bout at the O2 Arena, London for Cancer research UK. What was that like?
JW) Yes that was a great experience and for a good cause too. Kevin is a lovely guy and has become a very good friend. I feel very lucky to share a ring with him, even know it was for charity but it was a pleasure to take part in such a wonderful event.
LF) Who are some of your boxing heroes from past and present that you enjoy watching fight?
JW) My main hero is Arturo Gatti due to his pure guts and determination and he was always in exciting fights. My second is Joe Calzaghe, the fact he was world champion for over a decade is some achievement for a fighter and not only that but to stay undefeated is phenomenal. Of course I'm a big Muhammad Ali fan and a huge Jack Dempsey fan.
LF) You had a 6-2 record as an amateur before being sidelined through illness; I've heard you not only want to resume your amateur career but also turn pro?
JW) Yes that's correct, I could have had a lot more fights than that, but I had a motorbike accident when I was fifteen which kept me out for a long time. Yes I want to continue my career as an amateur and try and get a national title, I believe I can do it, I believe I can do anything now. After that I want to turn professional and make a career out of it and I'm not going to let anything stop me from achieving my dream.
LF) What message would you give to other patients who may be struggling to deal with their illness physically and emotionally?
JW) Well first off you need your family and friends’ support, but you need to be strong and believe in yourself. I can honestly say if you believe you can do anything, physically, don't push yourself too hard, listen to your body, if you can go for a short steady walk that’s brilliant. I got told to rest the whole way through my treatment but I believe that is not the way, I think if I never trained through my treatment I don't think I would have gotten through it as I did. Last thing is don't never let yourself feel down about it, or you and your family are going to be upset and that's understandable, not everyone is the same but half the battle is won if you are strong mentally.
LF) Finally, can you try and explain to everyone how boxing itself has helped you through such an incredibly hard, traumatic journey?
JW) Well as you know to be a boxer you have to be tough, and due to where I was very fit at the time I was diagnosed it gave me a huge advantage, that's the main factor. Most of (getting through illness) was just myself and self belief and determination. Boxing is one of the best sports in the world and it had been a key part in my life and will continue to do so.
It was an absolute honour and a privilege interviewing Jamie, we at Livefight wish him all the best in 2012 to fulfil his dream of returning to the ring.
