Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
My family were told to say goodbye. It was a miracle I even woke up...
TRAGIC JONJO’S RING TORMENT
BOXING made Jonjo Finnegan and then it ruined him – but given the chance he would do it all over again.
The fight game was rocked last week by the death of Scott Westgarth, after his victory over Dec Spelman.
The 31-year-old became the second British boxer within the last 18 months to lose his life after a fight, following the death of Scotsman Mike Towell.
Finnegan dodged death after a fight with Ryan Clark at Burton Town Hall in July, 2012.
“What happened to Scott has brought it back to me how lucky I am,” said the former super-middleweight champion.
“My missus, my kids and my close family were told to kiss me goodbye because I was in a coma and the doctors didn’t think I would make it. But I woke up the next day. It was a miracle.”
However, Finnegan, 37, was left with life-changing injuries.
The father of three is partially blind in both eyes, has epilepsy, has short-term memory loss and, because of a foot injury, he has trouble walking.
“I would love to be able to work all week, like I used to, earn some good money and then take my children to the bank on Friday and say to them, ‘Right, what shall we do this weekend?’,” said Finnegan.
“But I can’t do a lot any more. My quality of life isn’t great – and it’s all because of boxing. It was great to me, but it ruined my life too and I have a love-hate relationship with boxing now. People respect me because I boxed and I have a good reputation.
“Most of my friends are people I’ve met through boxing and it’s definitely made me a better person. I’ve walked away from situations that I might not have walked away from if it wasn’t for boxing.
“But, in the end, boxing has cost me everything. I’ve lost my job, my house and my family. My wife couldn’t take it any more and she’s taken my children with her.
“We are still friends and I still respect her, but, with my fits and struggling for money, it became too much for her.
“But the thing is, if I walked in the gym tomorrow and they gave me the all-clear to box again, I would. My mum would give me a slap, but I would.
“There’s no better feeling than standing in that ring after a hard, 10-round fight against a good lad and having your hand raised.”
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