After three CT-Scans detected only a superficial bleeding outside the brain, Czar Amonsot will be subjected to an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test at the Las Vegas Valley Hospital today with the findings forwarded to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for determination if he can fight again.
Amonsot, 21, is confined in the ICU where he was brought from the Mandalay Bay Events Center last Saturday night in the wake of the Bohol southpaw’s loss by a unanimous 12-round decision to WBO interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis of Australia.
NSAC executive director Keith Kizer earlier said Amonsot’s career could be over when informed of a “small” blood clot in his brain. But three CT-Scans revealed the bleeding was in the outer skull. Doctors later said the condition was not life-threatening and declared Amonsot out of danger.
ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer, whose son Michael is Amonsot’s manager, told The Star the possibility of the blood penetrating the skull prompted the series of tests. Amonsot complained of a headache in the dressing room but had no symptoms of a blood clot in the brain. He never lost consciousness and never vomited.
“His condition is stable,” said Aldeguer who is in Cebu. “I am in constant touch with my son who is with Amonsot in the hospital. Amonsot is in good spirits, talking and eager to come home. I think he’s very okay. Nevada has an SOP to bring fighters to the hospital for testing after a fight and it’s a good procedure. Katsidis also went to the hospital. Doctors confined Amonsot for observation because they were afraid the bleeding could enter the brain. Fortunately, it didn’t.”
Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim said with the results of the three CT-Scans, the chances are higher for Amonsot to continue fighting than to retire.
“The MRI test will be conclusive and the findings will be turned over to the NSAC which will decide if he can fight again,” said Lim. “I’ve asked my wife, who’s a doctor, to explain to me in layman’s terms what the results of the CT-Scans mean and I’m told the hematoma is under the skin and will just disappear. The tests showed the bleeding did not enter the brain. I’m closely monitoring developments. I’ve spoken with Michael, (trainer) Edito (Villamor) and (cutman) Tony (Martin) who’re all in Las Vegas and they’re confident there’s nothing to worry about. Whether Amonsot will fight again or not depends on the MRI findings and the state commission’s decision.”
Lim said he spoke to Golden Boy chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz and they were upbeat on Amonsot’s recovery.
“Sampson told me he’s now convinced Filipino fighters are superior to Mexicans,” said Lim. “He was initially hesitant to put Amonsot in the ring with Katsidis but was impressed with his showing. Richard assured me if Amonsot is cleared to fight again, he’ll give him the opportunity to bounce back from losing to Katsidis.”
Aldeguer confirmed that doctors ruled out surgery for Amonsot. He said he expects Amonsot to be discharged from the hospital after the MRI testing and should be back in the country Thursday morning.
Lim, who was in Las Vegas for three days last week to encourage Amonsot and flew back home to watch the fight on TV, said the fighter did the country proud in standing up to Katsidis.
“Amonsot was only the third fighter to go the distance with Katsidis and that’s a credit to him,” said Lim. “He’s still young. His attitude is good and his heart is in place.”
A lawyer, Lim was also in Las Vegas to renegotiate the contracts of several Filipino fighters with Golden Boy. He said he worked out a three-year extension of Boom Boom Bautista’s contract. Both Amonsot and Bautista are from Bohol, Lim’s home province.
Last September, Amonsot lost the WBO Asia-Pacific superfeatherweight title on the scales and in miserable physical condition, was knocked out by Simson Butar Butar of Indonesia in one round before a disappointed homecrowd in Tagbilaran City. He was earlier kicked out of Aldeguer’s stable when he was caught drinking liquor in his quarters.
But Amonsot changed his ways, promising Aldeguer and Lim to walk the straight path. He never strayed again. Last February, the reformed “bad boy” won the WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight crown via a split 12-round decision over Da Woon Jung in Seoul and earned the crack at Katsidis’ title.
