Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez is already improving after being admitted to a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, as he battles COVID-19.
Sylvia Cortez, the wife of the retired ref, assured that her husband has responded well to treatment, but he will continue to be hospitalized under medical supervision for a few more days.
“Joe is fine and alert. He is not responding to messages because we wanted him to be calm and recover more quickly, "said Sylvia to Carlos Narvaez.
“The symptom that was reflected in him was a small pneumonia and from there it was decided to enter [treatment] and start the protocols that the treatment of this virus entails. But thank God he's fine, and responding. We have not been able to see him due to the protocol, but we do receive a condition status every day and we know that thanks to God he is improving."
Early on Sunday morning, Cortez himself sent a short message to Narvaez, stating to him “I already feel better.”
Cortez's hospitalization was revealed on Saturday by the president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Mauricio Sulaimán, through a twitter message in which he wished the popular Puerto Rican figure a speedy recovery.
Cortez, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2011, retired from the sport in 2012 when he refereed the fight between Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Josesito López at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
He is currently active with the Nevada Athletic Commission and is in charge of overseeing the new instant replay project that has been in place in Las Vegas for some time. He also worked as an analyst for ESPN Deportes.
