Maurice “Termite” Watkins, who compiled a 61-5-2 record and 42 knockouts as a professional and is currently the manager and trainer of touted prospect Evan Holyfield, has contracted Covid-19 and is battling the virus, and for his life, since March 26.

The 63-year-old Watkins’ wife Cindy wrote on Facebook on Tuesday asking for urgent prayers to improve her still-hospitalized husband’s blood pressure, functioning of the kidneys, as well as for a fever and lung infection to subside.

“After a step back, we are moving forward in baby steps again with a little more good news,” said Cindy Watkins on Wednesday. “His kidneys have started working again and output is better. His white blood cell count is still elevated. They are gradually weaning him off his last blood pressure medication. We could not be more grateful to all of you who are praying. Termite, myself, and our entire family thank you for your constant love and prayers.”

Watkins was previously on a ventilator.

Watkins earned the nickname “Termite” throughout his 16-year career that spanned from 1974 to 1990 because the Houston-based boxer was born into a family that was in the insect-killing business. He was a professional fumigator as well.

Watkins survived life on the streets and ended up being a Golden Gloves Champion at 16-years-old, compiling an amateur record of 128 wins and 10 losses. He received his only world title shot in 1980, dropping a fifteen-round decision to Saoul Mamb for the WBC junior welterweight title on the undercard of the Muhammad Ali versus Larry Holmes fight.

After Watkins retired, he was asked to put his pest control skills to use in Iraq for U.S. military camps fumigating bugs, scorpions and snakes in Al Hillah. Shortly after, he was asked to coach and qualify the Iraqi boxing team for the 2004 Olympics, which had not had a boxer reach the Summer Games since 1988. Watkins ended up leading Najah Ali to the Athens Olympics with just 10 months of tutelage.

In addition to training Holyfield, the son of four-time heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame fighter Evander Holyfield, Watkins presides over a pool of Lone Star State-based amateurs.

He is also a motivational speaker through the Termite Watkins Charitable Foundation, an organization formed to promote the education of underprivileged kids in the community to improve needed techniques to promote self-worth, self-esteem and self-improvement through physical activities with boxing. He also heads the boxing ministry "Fighter Nation" for gang members, ex-convicts and ex-drug dealers.

Kathy Duva, head of Main Events, Holyfield’s promoter, and Jolene Mazzone, vice president of operations and matchmaker at Main Events, are in direct daily contact with Cindy and the Watkins family to learn of the former fighter’s progress.

”Our dear friend Termite has been fighting for his life for the past couple of weeks,” Kathy Duva, head of Main Event, told BoxingScene.com. “I can't imagine how horrible it must be for this energetic, outgoing, gregarious man to have to face a trial like this without his many close friends, his pastor and his family by his side. I cannot conceive of how helpless his wife, Cindy, and his children must feel as they are unable to comfort him in person, depending solely on periodic updates from Termite's nurses at the hospital. I know that Termite has touched an awful lot of people in his life with his boundless spirit. I’m equally sure that every one of us is praying for his recovery. He’s a fighter, and so I’m certain that, right now, he’s fighting with every ounce of his being.”

On Tuesday, trainer Freddie Roach posted a picture on social media together with Watkins. On March 8 in Irving, Texas, Watkins and Roach worked together for the first time when Watkins served as a cutman for Roach-trained fighter Israel Duffas’ win over light heavyweight Samuel Clarkson Jr.

Earlier in the night, Watkins had cornered Holyfield to his fourth career win.

“Termite is fighting for his life right now,” said Roach. “Please, keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Let’s go, Termite! Looking forward to working with you again.”

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the LA Times, Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com and currently does TV commentary for combat sports programming that airs on Fox Sports and hosts his own radio show in Los Angeles. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com.