Fight:145557
Tunney Hunsaker 200 lbs lost to Joe Shelton 192 lbs by KO at 2:43 in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1962-04-06
- Location: Raleigh County Armory, Beckley, West Virginia, USA
- Referee: Cotton White
The knockout came with 17 seconds left in the tenth round. Hunsaker rushed Shelton and ran into a hard right on the chin. The blow spun Hunsaker and he fell face down. Ring attendants revived him. Hunsaker later told a local sports writer, "I want to fight him again...I'm okay." With these words, Hunsaker collapsed into a coma. He was taken to a Beckley hospital and then rushed, with police escort, to a Bluefield hospital by ambulance, still wearing his boxing trunks and shoes.
"He was in bad shape when he came in but then he improved following an emergency brain operation," Dr. E. Lyle Gage, Bluefield surgeon, related. He had a black eye and a bruise on the head - evidence of a trauma. But he had overcome a good bit of paralysis by the next morning."
Dr. Gage explained that Hunsaker had a subdural hematoma hemorrhage of the right side of the brain and the injury was a paradox because his right side was also paralyzed. The doctor performed surgery to lessen the pressure on the brain and to drain the hemorrhage.
A second brain operation was performed within 24 hours when Hunsaker's temperature and blood pressure soared. An incision was made to relieve the pressure on the brain caused by swelling.
While the nation hoped and prayed for his recovery, Tunney's own courage, determination and newly found faith brought results. Gradually, he was able to swallow...recognize his wife...move his arm...speak. He was beginning the long road to recovery.
Boxing Illustrated, April, 1966 by Jack Thompson --palais 01:30, 2 Apr 2005 (CST)