GARY Mason's boxing future was under serious threat last night after
surgery on an injured retina in his right eye.
The British heavy-weight champion, long touted as a successor to Frank
Bruno as a world title prospect, was admitted to Manchester Royal Eye
Hospital yesterday -- 36 hours after his laboured points victory over
America's Everett Martin at the Albert Hall.
The exact nature of the injury was not clear -- though it was feared
to be a torn or detached retina. Detached retinas in both eyes
prematurely ended the career of Horace Notice, Mason's predecessor as
British champion, 16 months ago.
Mason, the 27-year old unbeaten boxer from Chatham, was operated on by
Professor David McLeod, an expert in retinal surgery. He is a personal
friend of Mason's manager, Terry Lawless.
Mason complained publicly of a sore right hand following the win over
Martin, and only revealed later to Lawless a problem with his vision.
''Of all the fighters I have managed, Gary complains less about injuries
than anyone,'' said Lawless.
Lawless added: ''Gary is absolutely sure he will carry on boxing. He
is so positive about things. He was more frightened about eye drops and
blood tests than the operation. It will depend on Gary, the injury and
the skill of the person doing the operation -- and David McLeod is the
best in the world. We are not likely to know anything positive until
about mid-June.''
Mason, who has won all 34 of his fights, was to have challenged
Frenchman Jean Chanet for the European crown in France next month, but
that contest is obviously off.
IRELAND'S Dave McAuley will read nothing into the fact his American
challenger has been out of the ring for 15 months, when he makes his St
Patrick's Day defence of the IBF world fly-weight title in the King's
Hall, Belfast today.
That was exactly the length of time the 28-year-old from Larne had
been inactive when he became champion at the third attempt last June.
Now, having out-boxed Duke McKenzie and out-foxed No.1 challenger
Dodie Penalosa, McAuley faces Louis Curtis, a 32-year-old who has had
only 17 professional fights, the last of them in December 1988.
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