Painful but not serious, says Fortune
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Jan 2019
WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao laughed off the injury in his left eye, saying he endured the same minor corneal scratch in his other eye in a previous fight and assured fans there?s nothing to worry about in a brief stage appearance following a Christian Sunday service at the Michael Jackson Theater in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino the day after outpointing Adrien Broner to retain his crown in Las Vegas.
Speculation that Pacquiao suffered a detached retina was doused by matchmaker Sean Gibbons who said it was ?a stupid rumor.? Pacquiao?s Australian strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune confirmed the injury was ?a scratched cornea ? painful but not serious.? Fortune added that the eye will be ?100 percent when it heals.?
Sugar Ray Leonard was 26 when he underwent surgery for a detached retina in 1982 and made a comeback to the ring after two years. The comeback extended to seven fights until his final retirement in 1997. The comeback included fights against Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Donny Lalonde whom he stopped to win the WBC lightheavyweight and vacant WBC supermiddleweight titles.
Another fighter who returned to action from surgery to repair a detached retina was former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster. He suffered the injury at 33 during a fight against Belarus? Siarhei Liakhovich in 2006 and came back after a year and three months to face Wladimir Klitschko. Brewster fought five bouts after his surgery, winning twice, until his retirement in 2010.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Arnold Salud said there are many degrees of retinal detachment and ?recovery before one can fight again (if pwede pa) can range from one to six months.? Dr. Salud, whose late father Rudy was a former WBC secretary-general, said it?s ?good if corneal abrasion only.? He said ?corneal abrasion heals in two to three days when the eye is patched tight.? So it?s why Pacquiao?s left eye was patched at the Christian service the day after the fight.
Meanwhile, VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) president Dr. Margaret Goodman reached out to clarify a report that Fortune couldn?t get an advice whether or not to treat Pacquiao?s cold with Benadryl before the Broner fight. ?VADA has always been available to us 24/7,? said Fortune. ?Yes, I did contact Dr. Goodman. Always better safe than sorry.? Fortune said he never got to ask about Benadryl as Pacquiao decided not to take any medication for fear of consuming a banned substance without his knowledge. Fortune said he has never had difficulty contacting VADA and getting clarification on any drug issue because it?s accessible at all hours, every day.
Dr. Goodman said when Fortune reached out, she immediately responded. ?When athletes enroll in VADA, their team is provided complete instructions on checking supplements and medications,? she said. ?The report made it sound like we provide no assistance and as a result, Manny had to fight under duress. I also suggested Justin to check everything with Nevada (state athletic commission).?
Dr. Goodman said she was never asked about Benadryl. ?I pride myself with always helping fighters understand the importance of competing clean,? she added. ?I have worked hard to make the program easy to use for fighters and their team so anything (reported) to the contrary is upsetting. We always recommend for fighters to check Global DRO (Drug Reference Online). It?s an easy quick way to check if something is prohibited. We always provide support to fighters even if they?re not enrolled in VADA.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
Wed, 02 Jul 2025TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Borromeo Leads Winners of the Philippine Speedcubing Championships
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 02 Jul 2025What If Pacquiao Defeats Barrios?
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 02 Jul 2025Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
Wed, 02 Jul 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
By Eric Armit, Tue, 01 Jul 2025IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 01 Jul 2025MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Tue, 01 Jul 2025CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
Tue, 01 Jul 2025Dumadag holds chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 01 Jul 2025Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
By Ace Freeman, Mon, 30 Jun 2025