Former boxing champion Jeff Fenech fighting for his life
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Australian former triple world-boxing champion Jeff Fenech, who is of Maltese descent, is battling for his life, in a Thailand hospital after his health deteriorated during a training camp.
Fenech, 55, who was in Thailand for a training camp with a group of young boxers, was rushed to hospital suffering from pneumonia and is in intensive care. Doctors are now preparing for the possibility of emergency heart surgery.
Fenech, also known as the ‘Marrickville Mauler’, is one of Australia’s most high-profile fighters.
Fenech was told by doctors he came close to dying with reports said he was “coughing up blood”.
Jeff Fenech update. On top of pneumonia doctors have diagnosed an infected heart valve which is likely to require surgery. pic.twitter.com/dCV8dzze3B
Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph has been in touch with Fenech inside the hospital, with the former champion saying “my lungs are gone. I’m in all this pain”.
Fenech’s eldest daughter Jessica is set to get married next Saturday with the family hopeful Jeff will be in good enough health to fly home for the wedding.
He represented Australia at the 1984 Summer Olympics in the United States as boxing captain – the same year he started in the sport.
Fenech was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002.
Fenech trained Mike Tyson when the world heavyweight champion decided to come out of retirement.
