BRISBANE’S former boxing champ Jarrod Fletcher is involved in the toughest fight of his life – for his sick daughter.
Fletcher has knocked back one of the biggest financial offers of his career to stay retired but will make a one-off return to the ring next week for a lifesaving charity on behalf of his little girl Milla.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist will spar 22 rounds against 22 different opponents at the Phoenix Gym in Newstead next Saturday to raise awareness and funds for VCF Syndrome. Also known as 22Q, the condition can cause congenital heart disease, hearing loss and speech and learning difficulties.
Fletcher’s two-year-old daughter suffers from the syndrome and while her condition is not life threatening, she has trouble with speech and communicates through sign language taught to her by her mother Krista.
“Sadly, it’s a condition that is not always diagnosed,” Fletcher said yesterday. “But from when Milla was one we knew something wasn’t quite right and after a lot of doctors’ visits she was finally diagnosed with the condition.”
The little-known disorder has more than 180 characteristics and is often confused as autism or development delay. Even Milla’s cherub face is a hint of her condition, with perfect chubby cheeks a symptom.
“Mentally and cognitively she knows what she wants to tell you but her speech doesn’t allow it,” Krista said. “So that’s the insanely frustrating part for her.”
“It’s very heartbreaking.”
Fletcher, 31, won the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal in Melbourne and turned professional after representing Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He won 18 of 21 pro fights and fought for the world middleweight title in New York last year.
Fletcher said: “I’ve had the biggest offers of my career since I retired but I wanted to stay retired.
“I know that if I took the fights I’d only be boxing for the money and I don’t want to do that.
“But hopefully my comeback next week will help some kids in need.”
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