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Boxing News of Sunday, 6 July 2008

Source: The Mirror

Jeff Fenech nursing broken ribs

Australian boxing legend, Jeff Fenech, apparently came off worst from his third clash with Ghana's Azumah Nelson two weeks ago, with fears that he might have suffered broken ribs in the fight of old men.

The judges scored the 10-round welterweight bout 96-94, 96-94 and 95-95 to hand the 44-year-old Fenech majority decision over the 49-year-old Azumah Nelson, but Fenech is reportedly battling to survive what his opponent of three fights inflicted on him on June 24 in Australia.

According to Tony Sheahan, an Australian journalist who writes for the Herald Sun; reputed to be Australia's biggest selling daily newspaper, “Fenech spent the fight night recuperating from a broken rib and busted hands, and was struggling to breath”.

Confirming what has reportedly aroused concern among his close associates, Fenech told the reporter: "Run your hand over my face and head (which was bruised and battered the morning after) - you don't get them on the way to rigging something, brother."

Fenech's comments were in defence of suggestions from the Australian public and carried over by the media that the verdict of his "rematch with Azumah Nelson was rigged."

"It wasn’t rigged mate,” defiant Fenech had said in the interview.