Jack Mesi "I've got to maintain hope"
Posted: 25 Apr 2004, 12:46
Injury imperils Mesi's career
By John Wawrow, Associated Press | April 25, 2004
BUFFALO -- Jack Mesi is staying positive, even though he's not sure whether his son's heavyweight boxing career is over because of a head injury.
"I've got to maintain hope," Mesi told the Associated Press. "You've got to stay positive. People might say `limbo.' And other people might say `hell.' Our position is waiting for the good news."
That news, good or bad, won't come for at least another few weeks when Jack Mesi -- also the manager of heavyweight Joe Mesi -- said his son is next scheduled to visit the doctor.
In the meantime, the career of the undefeated heavyweight is on hold after Mesi sustained a concussion in his last fight, a unanimous decision over Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas last month. Following the fight, in which Mesi was knocked down three times in the final two rounds, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Mesi, pending the results of neurological tests.
Mesi, a suburban Buffalo native, has a 29-0 record and is the World Boxing Council's third-ranked heavyweight.
Asked if he's confident if his son will fight again, Mesi said, "Look, I've got to remain optimistic. I can't answer that question. I've been optimistic the entire time and I've got to believe that Joe's going to fight.
"We're still seeing the doctor. We're going to bring our records, satisfy everybody, and get back to fighting. That's what my hopes and prayers and intentions are."
Mesi's comments come amid reports that his son's injury is more severe than thought. Citing unidentified sources, the Buffalo News reported that Mesi sustained a subdural hematoma, bleeding on the surface of brain. Under Nevada boxing rules, such an injury could lead the commission to impose a lifetime ban on Mesi.
Jack Mesi referred to the reports as "not accurate."
"Blood clot, or whatever other way they describe this thing, was never used in my discussions with the doctor," Mesi said. "We talked about concussions. We talked about trauma."
But Mesi acknowledged that he remains cautious that the tests might be interpreted differently by doctors in Nevada.
"They're going to make the final decision," he said. "It's a decision that's not made by anybody else. It's out of my hands."
Mesi said he would honor whatever decision is reached.
"I know the rules," he said. "If it's that injury, we're not going to fight. He's not fighting anywhere if he can't fight in Nevada."
Questions about Joe Mesi's future come at what is considered the most important juncture of the 30-year-old fighter's career.
Mesi has one fight left under a three-fight contract he signed with HBO last year. And the Mesi camp was hoping that that third fight would be against Mike Tyson before the end of this year.
Promoter Tony Holden said he's already making plans to negotiate Mesi's next fight.
"The only thing that I can say is that Joe's fine and we're planning on fighting in August," Holden said. "He's had a concussion. I'm not hiding that. He had a concussion and we're probably not going to fight until August."
Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said he's aware of the speculation regarding Mesi's injury. But the commission won't rule until the medical reports are submitted.
"There are medical confidentiality laws in America, and I cannot believe that everybody is looking at these medical reports," Ratner said. "I haven't seen them."
Jack Mesi said he never would put his son in danger.
"My son's got a head injury," he said. "Are you kidding? Of course I'm concerned."
By John Wawrow, Associated Press | April 25, 2004
BUFFALO -- Jack Mesi is staying positive, even though he's not sure whether his son's heavyweight boxing career is over because of a head injury.
"I've got to maintain hope," Mesi told the Associated Press. "You've got to stay positive. People might say `limbo.' And other people might say `hell.' Our position is waiting for the good news."
That news, good or bad, won't come for at least another few weeks when Jack Mesi -- also the manager of heavyweight Joe Mesi -- said his son is next scheduled to visit the doctor.
In the meantime, the career of the undefeated heavyweight is on hold after Mesi sustained a concussion in his last fight, a unanimous decision over Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas last month. Following the fight, in which Mesi was knocked down three times in the final two rounds, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Mesi, pending the results of neurological tests.
Mesi, a suburban Buffalo native, has a 29-0 record and is the World Boxing Council's third-ranked heavyweight.
Asked if he's confident if his son will fight again, Mesi said, "Look, I've got to remain optimistic. I can't answer that question. I've been optimistic the entire time and I've got to believe that Joe's going to fight.
"We're still seeing the doctor. We're going to bring our records, satisfy everybody, and get back to fighting. That's what my hopes and prayers and intentions are."
Mesi's comments come amid reports that his son's injury is more severe than thought. Citing unidentified sources, the Buffalo News reported that Mesi sustained a subdural hematoma, bleeding on the surface of brain. Under Nevada boxing rules, such an injury could lead the commission to impose a lifetime ban on Mesi.
Jack Mesi referred to the reports as "not accurate."
"Blood clot, or whatever other way they describe this thing, was never used in my discussions with the doctor," Mesi said. "We talked about concussions. We talked about trauma."
But Mesi acknowledged that he remains cautious that the tests might be interpreted differently by doctors in Nevada.
"They're going to make the final decision," he said. "It's a decision that's not made by anybody else. It's out of my hands."
Mesi said he would honor whatever decision is reached.
"I know the rules," he said. "If it's that injury, we're not going to fight. He's not fighting anywhere if he can't fight in Nevada."
Questions about Joe Mesi's future come at what is considered the most important juncture of the 30-year-old fighter's career.
Mesi has one fight left under a three-fight contract he signed with HBO last year. And the Mesi camp was hoping that that third fight would be against Mike Tyson before the end of this year.
Promoter Tony Holden said he's already making plans to negotiate Mesi's next fight.
"The only thing that I can say is that Joe's fine and we're planning on fighting in August," Holden said. "He's had a concussion. I'm not hiding that. He had a concussion and we're probably not going to fight until August."
Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said he's aware of the speculation regarding Mesi's injury. But the commission won't rule until the medical reports are submitted.
"There are medical confidentiality laws in America, and I cannot believe that everybody is looking at these medical reports," Ratner said. "I haven't seen them."
Jack Mesi said he never would put his son in danger.
"My son's got a head injury," he said. "Are you kidding? Of course I'm concerned."