Amonsot cleared to come home By Joaquin Henson

Czar Amonsot, recovering from slight bleeding in the outer skull, will be home from Las Vegas early Saturday morning and after a rest of three to six months, hopes to resume his boxing career.

Amonsot took three CT-Scans and an MRI before neurosurgeon Dr. Debra Nelson gave an optimistic prognosis of his condition yesterday at the Las Vegas Valley Hospital where he has been confined since losing a 12-round decision to Michael Katsidis in a WBO interim lightweight title bout at Mandalay Bay last Saturday night.

Amonsot will be discharged from the hospital today and leave Las Vegas with promoter Sammy Gello-ani for Manila on Thursday.

The series of tests became necessary when Dr. Nelson detected an acute subdural hematoma that threatened to penetrate the brain. Surgery would’ve been required if the bleeding entered the brain and caused a swelling.

But the MRI confirmed the bleeding was superficial and just under the skin. Dr. Nelson said it was similar to the bleeding that is reflected in a black eye. The MRI was postponed twice to give way to emergency life-threatened patients and finally, Amonsot underwent the 20-minute procedure yesterday afternoon.

In a visit to Amonsot’s hospital room 376 last night, Dr. Nelson said she is convinced God has plans for the fighter, possibly to become a world champion. Sparing Amonsot from surgery was a miracle, she said. Dr. Nelson promised to relay her findings to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) which will decide whether or not to renew Amonsot’s license to box.

“Dr. Nelson told Czar to rest for three months then take another MRI in the Philippines and if everything is fine, he should be able to go back to the gym and start training again,” said Amonsot’s manager Michael Aldeguer in a phone call from Las Vegas.

Aldeguer said Dr. Nelson’s prognosis was encouraging and conclusively declared Amonsot out of danger.

“After the first CT-Scan, Dr. Nelson was concerned that the bleeding could penetrate the brain and even suggested a 70 percent chance of surgery but God is good,” said Aldeguer. “The bleeding never progressed. Amonsot was in the ICU for 1 1/2 days under observation then was brought to a regular room. He looked better than Katsidis after the fight.”

Katsidis reportedly had 26 stitches to sew up four cuts around both eyes. Aldeguer said he heard he wound up with 47 stitches, counting the inner and outer layers of skin.

Aldeguer said Golden Boy matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz would take up Amonsot’s case with the NSAC but couldn’t be sure if his license would be renewed. He said he has not been informed that Amonsot was suspended indefinitely.

Amonsot was in good spirits after learning of Dr. Nelson’s findings.