Amir Mansour Tongue Tied and in Stitches after Fighting Breazeale
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Los Angeles, CA (January 24th, 2015)– Amir Mansour managed to knock down unbeaten Dominic Breazeale in the third round at the Staples Center in Los Angeles this past Saturday night, January 23, 2016, winning all five of the first five rounds on the judges’ scorecards. However, Mansour did not get the chance could to close the show. By the end of the fifth round, Mansour had nearly bit his tongue is half. His ring mouthpiece was fitted for the upper jaw only. Why would he use such a partial mouthpiece, instead of the recommended complete type? And why it would be allowed by the California State Athletic Commission? The specific mouthpiece regulation raises questions. Mansour survived five hours of surgery and took 36 stitches in his tongue, perhaps the strangest injury incurred by a heavyweight boxer during a televised bout.
Mansour’s last two opponents, Breazeale, (17-0) and Gerald Washington (16-0) who he drew with three months ago, are testament to the rough road for any heavyweight trying to get a heavyweight title shot and realizing the big money, let alone an older heavyweight whose best years have been left behind in the sunshine.
Life is not always like the song ‘Haven’t Got Time for the Pain’ by Carly Simon. Mansour, unable to breathe, did not get off his stool after the fifth round, and allowed Breazeale to win the vacant World Boxing Council Continental Americas regional heavyweight title despite losing all five of the first rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.
Result: Dominic Breazeale Win TKO 5 Mir Mansour, Heavyweights (3:00)
Breazeale wins vacant World Boxing Council Continental Americas Heavyweight title
Mansour, unable to breathe, retired in his corner after nearly biting his tongue in half.
Scoring: 50-44, 50-44, 50-44 for Mansour at time of corner retirement.
When looking at heavyweight Amir Mansour, whose key comeback bouts this reporter has covered at ringside (including Fred Kassi, Joey Dawejko and Hector Ferreyro), this reporter has seen hard work, focus, and seriousness of purpose. Mansour got locked up from 2001 to 2010, and again in 2012. At age 43, Mansour is older than George Foreman when Foreman started his comeback in 1987 after a ten year layoff. How far older heavyweight fighters like Mansour and Shannon Briggs (now making his third comeback at age 44) can last at advanced age is a big question mark. 47 year old James ‘Lights Out’ Toney saw the lights go out on his famed career in August 2015 when he lost a ten round unanimous decision in St. Louis, Missouri, to 40 year journeyman heavyweight Charles Ellis.
Not all fighters have the heart, courage, speed and stamina to overcome pain and adversity like Muhammad Ali did. Amir Mansour remains a true warrior in every sense of the word.
English