10-29-2016, 10:45 AM
Monty Betham reveals brain injury forced him to walk away from boxing
Monty Betham announced his retirement from boxing last week.
Boxer Monty Betham has opened up about the alarming health scare that forced him to walk away from the ring for good.
The former Warriors and Kiwis league player last week made the decision to retire, in consultation with experienced physician Dr Chris Hanna, after being diagnosed with a brain bleed earlier in the year that left him nearly paralysed with pain.
And while he has since been given the all-clear, Betham told NZME that is it too dangerous to lace up the gloves again.
The 38-year-old father of two's problems began in June while preparing for the defence of his New Zealand cruiserweight crown against James Langton.
Following an eight-round sparring session, Betham felt pain at the back of his head, despite not feeling stunned or dazed by any of the punches.
Betham was advised to undergo a concussion test, which he passed.
But not long after, the symptoms got worse.
"Progressively, my body started stiffening up - my hamstrings, my glutes and through my back - to the point where I couldn't even get out of bed. Even turning over in bed was extremely painful," he told NZME.
"It was frightening. I have a high pain threshold but ... it felt like someone was stabbing me every time I moved, that's how bad it was.
"I had a brain bleed or head bleed, and the fluid leaked down the spine into the lumber area which just crippled me. The scary thing is if that hadn't happened, I would have fought because I had passed the concussion test. I would have fought a 10-round fight with a brain bleed. I could have been history."
Betham spent the last few months contemplating his future in the ring and as the symptoms cleared, he admitted thoughts of one last fight did go through his head.
"But then I thought 'that's what they all say, and if this happened in sparring with 16oz gloves and headgear, what it's going to be like with 10oz gloves?'
"You can't gamble like that."
Betham, who played nine league tests for the Kiwis and four for Samoa, retires with a professional record of 8-1, with his only loss coming via unanimous decision to Shane Cameron.
- Stuff
Monty Betham announced his retirement from boxing last week.
Boxer Monty Betham has opened up about the alarming health scare that forced him to walk away from the ring for good.
The former Warriors and Kiwis league player last week made the decision to retire, in consultation with experienced physician Dr Chris Hanna, after being diagnosed with a brain bleed earlier in the year that left him nearly paralysed with pain.
And while he has since been given the all-clear, Betham told NZME that is it too dangerous to lace up the gloves again.
The 38-year-old father of two's problems began in June while preparing for the defence of his New Zealand cruiserweight crown against James Langton.
Following an eight-round sparring session, Betham felt pain at the back of his head, despite not feeling stunned or dazed by any of the punches.
Betham was advised to undergo a concussion test, which he passed.
But not long after, the symptoms got worse.
"Progressively, my body started stiffening up - my hamstrings, my glutes and through my back - to the point where I couldn't even get out of bed. Even turning over in bed was extremely painful," he told NZME.
"It was frightening. I have a high pain threshold but ... it felt like someone was stabbing me every time I moved, that's how bad it was.
"I had a brain bleed or head bleed, and the fluid leaked down the spine into the lumber area which just crippled me. The scary thing is if that hadn't happened, I would have fought because I had passed the concussion test. I would have fought a 10-round fight with a brain bleed. I could have been history."
Betham spent the last few months contemplating his future in the ring and as the symptoms cleared, he admitted thoughts of one last fight did go through his head.
"But then I thought 'that's what they all say, and if this happened in sparring with 16oz gloves and headgear, what it's going to be like with 10oz gloves?'
"You can't gamble like that."
Betham, who played nine league tests for the Kiwis and four for Samoa, retires with a professional record of 8-1, with his only loss coming via unanimous decision to Shane Cameron.
- Stuff