Big Al Helps Juan Contreras Fight for his Life-Amateur Boxing Fight Night at Mt. Brighton Ski Lodge, Brighton, Michigan
Youth boxer remains in a coma…A benefit event is scheduled
(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 03, 2008 ) Brighton, MI--"Fighting out of the blue corner weighing in at 120 pounds, wearing blue shorts and gold shirt representing his gym, Crown Boxing"… the boxing ring announcer introduced 12 year old Juan Contreras. This was only his second amateur match. He was victorious in debut match held two weeks earlier in St. Clair Shores and with his father Jose and uncle David Martinez, in the stands cheering him on, young Juan was ready to win this bout.
But this 15th day of March would hold a different fate that no one could imagine.
The bell rang sounding round one and Juan came out like a champion landing blows on his 13 year old opponent. This is what he had been training for, jogging 10 blocks routinely to condition himself. His coach, Ali Easly, describes him as a big puncher with natural talent for the sport. By the second round it was obvious that Juan was dominating the match, landing a left hand at the end of the round that knocked his opponent to the canvas.
Juan's mother, Rosemary, wasn't there to witness the action. She preferred not to watch Juan's fights because she couldn't bare the sight of her baby boy getting hit. It took a year for her to finally give in and allow Juan to join the sport. Of course she could never have predicted that this match would turn into his fight for life.
"Ding" round three commenced with Juan's challenger on a mission to turn the tide. He landed a flurry of punches to Juan's face and head. Juan was in trouble and couldn't recover. The referee was forced to stop the attack with a standing 8 count. Initially there was no sign of serious injury until Juan's knees buckled. He collapsed into the referees arms that was by then accompanied by Coach Easly.
They sat Juan on his corner stool to let the ringside doctor examine him. It must have been apparent that something was wrong because shortly after an ambulance arrived to take the injured fighter to Bronson Methodist Hospital in nearby Kalamazoo. By the time he arrived he was unconscious and unresponsive due to a subdural hemotoma, more commonly referred to as a brain bleed. This is a common effect of serious head injury which causes pressure to build and cut off oxygen from the brain.
Doctors performed surgery, removing a fragment of skull in order to allow the blood to drain but Juan still has not recovered. He now lays in a coma at CS Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. Rosemary, Jose, Jose jr. and Crystal stay by his side faithfully waiting for him to wake up. His hospital room is adorned with get well cards from friends and neighbors who are praying for his speedy recovery. There is hope for Juan; he's a fighter, not just in the ring.
Recently he got a visit from Al Low, Chairman of the Michigan Boxing Commission. . Al described his visit to Juan where he had the privilege of meeting Rosemary.
"I asked her who Juan's favorite boxer is and she told me Oscar De La Hoya. I told Juan that I was just at a press conference with Oscar and what a great man he is. Just then Juan moved forward in his special chair and his mom caught him and moved him back, so I kept talking to Juan until I looked at his mom who was sitting on his hospital bed with a shocked look that I will remember the rest of my life. I asked what was wrong and she explained that was his first movement in over sixty days. I then told Juan I believed I could get Oscar to talk with him but I told him that Oscar would want to know if he still knew how to make a fist. As I asked him that question he raised both his arms and fists up in the air as though he was going to box. I had read in the newspaper that his mom tried to get him to squeeze her hand but got know response. So I asked one more thing of Juan to squeeze my hand so I could tell Oscar how strong he was, Juan grabbed my hand like a grown man would so I pealed his hand off mine and placed it on his moms arm he squeezed so hard it made her yell out. Juan's mom ran to call her husband with the news several nurses came into the room. At that point I knew I had to call Golden Boy and get a hold of Oscar. I talk to Nicole and Armando who is the Vice President of Golden Boy and they were very touched by this story. He explained that Oscar was in the UK and would be back the following Monday, I asked if they would record a get-well message in English and Spanish right away for Juan. I will remember the look on Juan's moms face for the rest of my life, I thank God for allowing me to witness this day and please join me in praying for Juan and his family."
Now Al is organizing a fundraiser to help support Juan and his family in their time of need. He is sponsoring an amateur boxing show on June 14th at the Mt. Brighton Ski Lodge; 4141 Bauer Road; Brighton, MI. Call 248-390-1873 for Ticket Info.
His promotion company is accepting donations on behalf of Juan and the Contreras family. He urges anyone who is involved with the sport or has the compassion to aid this young man to contribute to the effort. Make checks or money orders available to Big Al's Promotions, 9742 Tioga Trail, Pinckney, Michigan 48169.
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But this 15th day of March would hold a different fate that no one could imagine.
The bell rang sounding round one and Juan came out like a champion landing blows on his 13 year old opponent. This is what he had been training for, jogging 10 blocks routinely to condition himself. His coach, Ali Easly, describes him as a big puncher with natural talent for the sport. By the second round it was obvious that Juan was dominating the match, landing a left hand at the end of the round that knocked his opponent to the canvas.
Juan's mother, Rosemary, wasn't there to witness the action. She preferred not to watch Juan's fights because she couldn't bare the sight of her baby boy getting hit. It took a year for her to finally give in and allow Juan to join the sport. Of course she could never have predicted that this match would turn into his fight for life.
"Ding" round three commenced with Juan's challenger on a mission to turn the tide. He landed a flurry of punches to Juan's face and head. Juan was in trouble and couldn't recover. The referee was forced to stop the attack with a standing 8 count. Initially there was no sign of serious injury until Juan's knees buckled. He collapsed into the referees arms that was by then accompanied by Coach Easly.
They sat Juan on his corner stool to let the ringside doctor examine him. It must have been apparent that something was wrong because shortly after an ambulance arrived to take the injured fighter to Bronson Methodist Hospital in nearby Kalamazoo. By the time he arrived he was unconscious and unresponsive due to a subdural hemotoma, more commonly referred to as a brain bleed. This is a common effect of serious head injury which causes pressure to build and cut off oxygen from the brain.
Doctors performed surgery, removing a fragment of skull in order to allow the blood to drain but Juan still has not recovered. He now lays in a coma at CS Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. Rosemary, Jose, Jose jr. and Crystal stay by his side faithfully waiting for him to wake up. His hospital room is adorned with get well cards from friends and neighbors who are praying for his speedy recovery. There is hope for Juan; he's a fighter, not just in the ring.
Recently he got a visit from Al Low, Chairman of the Michigan Boxing Commission. . Al described his visit to Juan where he had the privilege of meeting Rosemary.
"I asked her who Juan's favorite boxer is and she told me Oscar De La Hoya. I told Juan that I was just at a press conference with Oscar and what a great man he is. Just then Juan moved forward in his special chair and his mom caught him and moved him back, so I kept talking to Juan until I looked at his mom who was sitting on his hospital bed with a shocked look that I will remember the rest of my life. I asked what was wrong and she explained that was his first movement in over sixty days. I then told Juan I believed I could get Oscar to talk with him but I told him that Oscar would want to know if he still knew how to make a fist. As I asked him that question he raised both his arms and fists up in the air as though he was going to box. I had read in the newspaper that his mom tried to get him to squeeze her hand but got know response. So I asked one more thing of Juan to squeeze my hand so I could tell Oscar how strong he was, Juan grabbed my hand like a grown man would so I pealed his hand off mine and placed it on his moms arm he squeezed so hard it made her yell out. Juan's mom ran to call her husband with the news several nurses came into the room. At that point I knew I had to call Golden Boy and get a hold of Oscar. I talk to Nicole and Armando who is the Vice President of Golden Boy and they were very touched by this story. He explained that Oscar was in the UK and would be back the following Monday, I asked if they would record a get-well message in English and Spanish right away for Juan. I will remember the look on Juan's moms face for the rest of my life, I thank God for allowing me to witness this day and please join me in praying for Juan and his family."
Now Al is organizing a fundraiser to help support Juan and his family in their time of need. He is sponsoring an amateur boxing show on June 14th at the Mt. Brighton Ski Lodge; 4141 Bauer Road; Brighton, MI. Call 248-390-1873 for Ticket Info.
His promotion company is accepting donations on behalf of Juan and the Contreras family. He urges anyone who is involved with the sport or has the compassion to aid this young man to contribute to the effort. Make checks or money orders available to Big Al's Promotions, 9742 Tioga Trail, Pinckney, Michigan 48169.
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This press release was issued through GroupWeb EmailWire.Com. For more information on unlimited press release distribution service, go to http://www.emailwire.com
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