Joseph Agbeko, the International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion, collapsed at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday and has been forced to withdraw from his fight against Abner Mares in Saturday?s finale of Showtime?s bantamweight tournament.
Dr. Richard S. Gluckman of San Pedro, Calif., determined Wednesday that Agbeko is unable to fight, so the bout was canceled. There has been no decision on whether the card will go on with the third-place fight between Yohnny Perez and Vic Darchinyan pushed up to the main event, or if it will be canceled, said the card?s lead promoter, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions.
Schaefer said at 8 p.m. ET that he and co-promoter Gary Shaw are trying to save the show, though he said he had been unable to reach Showtime Sports general manager Ken Hershman, who is in Italy on a family vacation. Schaefer said that Golden Boy has had talks with representatives of Tomoki Kameda, a 19-year-old who is 18-0 with 12 knockouts, about stepping in to replace Agbeko. He said he?d have to get OKs from Mares and Showtime in order to do it, but said he is confident he can reach a deal with Kameda. Kameda?s older brother, Koki, holds a World Boxing Association version of the bantamweight title.
According to Alan Hopper, a spokesman for Agbeko promoter Don King, Agbeko was holding his right leg after collapsing. Hopper said Agbeko was transported to Marina Del Ray Hospital on Monday, where emergency-room physician Susan Salazar treated him. Salazar told Agbeko that sciatic nerve injuries are not uncommon after a lengthy flight.
Agbeko ran eight miles Monday before heading to JFK International Airport in New York for the flight to Los Angeles, said Hopper, who was in the group picking Agbeko up at the airport. Hopper said Agbeko?s flight was delayed for three hours, then he was in the air in excess of five hours.
Hopper said Agbeko crossed in front of the vehicle to the driver?s side and collapsed, where he was holding his right buttocks and thigh.
?I asked him, ?Joseph, what is wrong? Are you all right?? ? Hopper said. ?And he just said, ?This can?t be happening. This can?t happen. I have to fight on Saturday night.? ?
Hopper said that Gluckman wants to see the results of Agbeko?s MRI. Hopper said Agbeko is still in pain and despondent over not being able to fight.
Agbeko defeated Perez in the first round of the four-man tournament Dec. 11 in Tacoma, Wash. Mares had beaten Darchinyan that same night to set up the finale, which was set for Saturday at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Schaefer said he was trying to reach Showtime Sports general manager Ken Hershman, who was traveling in Italy. It was after midnight in Italy when Schaefer began to try to reach Hershman.
