By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Czar Amonsot whose career was almost ended when a spec of blood was discovered outside his brain after a bloody brawl with Australia’s Michael Katsiidis at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on July 21, 2007 has been cleared to fight again.
Insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports learned that several tests conducted both in the US where doctors first discovered the spec of blood outside the brain in a routine post-fight examination as well as in the Philippines, have shown that there was no longer any spec of blood.
In fact an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) conducted at the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital last September 24 had effectively cleared Amonsot.
Amonsot (18-3-1, 10 KO’s) was also cleared to “go back to his usual activity/routine” by well-known neurosurgeon Dr. Almario G. Jabson of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center last October 20, paving the way for the talented southpaw to resume his boxing career when he faces Indonesia’s 21 year old Zoel Fidal (16-6-2, 7 KO’s) in Tagbilaran City on January 31.
The MRI signed by pathologist Mary Jo Sarino Alfonso M.D. said the “comparative evaluation reveal complete clearing the previously reported focal area of abnormal signals” and that there was “no demonstrable intra or extra cerebral hemorrhage “
The findings showed “complete resolution of the previously reported cortical hemorrhage in the left temporal and left occipital lobe regions” and that there was “no evidence of intra or extra-cerebral hemorrhage.” The MRI also showed “no demonstrable intracranial mass or signal abnormality.”
Amonsot, the WBO Asia Pacific lightweight champion put on a gallant fight against the undefeated WBO Interim lightweight champion Katsidis before losing a unanimous twelve round decision.
It was an action-packed and sometimes brutal battle that qualified for “Fight of the Year” honors in which Amonsot paid the price for his occasional showboating and carelessness that resulted in knockdowns in the second and tenth rounds which clinched the fight for Katsidis although the second knockdown appeared to be more of a shove.
In contrast, referee Jay Nady who appeared to only have eyes for seeming infractions by the Filipino ruled a clear knockdown scored by Amonsot when he nailed an off-balance Katisidis with a right hook, as a slip.
Katisids was badly cut over and under his left eye while there was also a cut inflicted on his right cheek by Amonsot who nailed the champion with a series of combinations throughout. But the Australian of Greek descent proved to be a genuine ring warrior and survived, before eventually winning on the sheer volume of punches thrown and the two knockdowns.
Amonsot’s Indonesian opponent in the Filipino’s comeback fight is also a southpaw and is coming off a ten round unanimous decision over talented Australian William Kickett last September 10.
