By Mark Vester
Undefeated heavyweight contender Joe Mesi (33-0, 26KOs) is fighting hard to regain the New York State boxing license he lost when he was injured in the ring against Vassily Jirov in March of 2003. Medical exams following the bout revealed that Mesi sustained a brain injury, which led to a near two-year medical suspension. After numerous hearings and legal corners, Mesi regained the ability to fight and has won four bouts in 2006.
The Tonawanda News reports that Mesi recently held a special press conference with nearly 100 supporters in an effort to gain public backing for his fight to regain the ability to box in New York State.
“I had a broken blood vessel in the back of my head. My injury was minor and somewhat common in boxing,” said Mesi. “On the scale of one to a hundred, my doctors put it at 0.5. The doctors after the fight looked at me and cleared me. I went to three doctors and they all said I was fine. Then they said I had subdural hematoma. The next thing you know I get a letter in the mail announcing that I could no longer fight anymore — that they were suspending my boxing license.
“It’s no longer a medical issue. Now it’s a political issue"
Mesi is willing to undergo any medical test issued by the New York State Athletic Commission in order to fight again in New York State.
“I’ve had so many MRIs, my eyes are glowing,” Mesi said. “I don’t have to do this. It’s just something I love and have always wanted to do. I just want an opportunity to fight for the heavyweight title.”
