Boxer’s illness stuns his handlers

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 68

Boxer’s illness stuns his handlers

NZPA-Reuter London

The British world light-welterweight champion, Terry Marsh, stunned his own handlers yesterday when he said he was retiring because he had epilepsy.

His manager, Frank Warren, said he was “absolutely stunned” by the news of Marsh’s illness, and had been with his fighter on Monday when the International Boxing Federation (1.8. F. champion signed a contract to meet the American, Frankie Warren, in London in December.

The trainer, Ernie Fossey, said: “When we saw him yesterday everything was fine and I left Terry and Frank Warren to sort out the details and sign the contract Everyone was happy and Terry never said a word.”

The contract guaranteed Marsh SUS2S6,HO. In announcing his retirement Marsh said that neurologists told him two weeks ago that one punch could not only wreck his career but kill him.

Marsh, aged 29, said he became aware of the problem after winning the European light-wel-terweight crown in 1985 when he suffered a seizure but had not sought medical help then.

“As far as I’m concerned this contract is now just a piece of toilet paper to me,” Mr Warren said.

“I can’t believe Terry has done this. Ernie and I both think of ourselves as his close friends, and we would have hoped he could have shared this with us. Naturally, we’d have done anything we could to help.” Mr Fossey said: “I’ve known Terry for many years, trained him for a long time, and he is a close friend. I would never have let him in the ring unless I was sure he was 101 per cent fit. “This has come as a total shock add I’m a little bit upset about the way we have had to find out about it”