Former boxing champion Jeff Fenech to undergo heart surgery
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Retired Australian professional boxer Jeff Fenech, who is of Maltese descent, remains in a Bangkok hospital where he will be undergoing a heart operation on an infected valve
The three-time world champion flew to Thailand last week with 10 boxers. He was rushed to hospital on Friday after coughing up blood at a Thai training camp.
The infection, which has blocked a valve in his heart, has caused bleeding to the lungs.
Fenech was reportedly told he came close to dying.
Due to the operation, Fenech is set to miss his daughter’s wedding at the end of the week.
Former boxing legend Mike Tyson was among his well-wisher. Fenech trained Mike Tyson when the world heavyweight champion decided to come out of retirement.
He will have surgery to replace the valve with a new tissue valve tomorrow. If successful the new valve will last for ten years, which should allow Fenech to continue being active.
Sources close to Fenech were reported to have said that he is in a lot of pain and hasn’t slept for at least six days. Then when he does nod off, he struggles to breathe.
His boxers were the ones who called an ambulance and are credited with saving his life.
Fenech, also known as the ‘Marrickville Mauler’, is one of Australia’s most high-profile fighters who won world titles in three weight divisions.
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.
