My family were told to say goodbye. I was in a coma... it was a miracle I woke up
TRAGIC JONJO’S TORMENT AFTER HORROR INJURY IN RING
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 in the world than standing in that ring after a hard, 10-round fight against a good lad and having your hand raised. There’s no buzz like it and I miss it like crazy. Every time I go to a boxing show, I sit there thinking, ‘I wish that was me in there fighting’.”
But Finnegan is desperate not to see his son fight.
Jonjo Jr is four and Finnegan said: “He’s already asked when he can start boxing.
“I’ve told him to be a footballer instead. Footballers earn more money – and it doesn’t hurt as much.
“I will try to dissuade him from boxing, but my dad tried to dissuade me – and I ended up boxing for 22 years. I know you can only say no for so long and if Jonjo does want to do it, I will be with him every step of the way.”
The latest ring tragedy has led to calls for boxing to be abolished or made safer.
“Maybe you could make fights shorter and the fighters could wear headguards, like the amateurs do, but who’s going to pay to watch it?” said Finnegan.
“Boxing is a hard sport – that’s just the way it is – and it’s better to have lads in the gym boxing than going out on Saturday nights fighting in pubs.”