Boxing News: You have to give up fighting eventually. Some are allowed to retire from boxing on their own terms. Others’ lives end when they can’t avoid it, when they least expect it, and against their will. Deion Jumah experienced the latter.
When he opened his eyes, he was blind.
He had a few weeks till the bout that would be the turning point in his career. Jumah was scheduled to square off against London opponent Mikael Lawal in November for the British cruiserweight championship.
Sparring in particular had been going well during training. He had not seen anything that might have caused an injury, such as a particularly hard punch. However, he discovered after training that his left eye was not fully functioning.
He wanted to think that he was simply exhausted. Jumah took the afternoon off and ran while holding onto his faith. He woke up that night in the end and was blind. He then went directly to the hospital. He was in the operating room for surgery on a detached retina eight hours later. Then the boxing was finished.
Jumah had travelled this path previously. He had previously experienced a detached retina, had it surgically repaired, and then through a protracted legal battle to have his boxing licence reinstated and return to the sport.
“We went above and beyond to obtain my first driving licence. After a torn retina, I believe it was something that was quite rare to get. I received a tonne of assistance,” Jumah told Sky Sports.
“It took forever. I wouldn’t say we were lucky at the time this process was taking place; rather, it just worked—our steadfastness and sheer effort.
“I wasn’t prepared to repeat that. I was through.”
He said, “The first time it happened, I was more terrified of missing my chance than I was of being blind. I would rather have battled and been blind. When it happened a second time, I was like I don’t want to go blind.”
Jumah was right on the verge of his breakthrough battle, which made it all the more difficult. If you were to win the British title, future fights against Isaac Chamberlain, Chris Billam-Smith, Richard Riakporhe again, or perhaps Lawrence Okolie for the world title might become even more thrilling.
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