The former professional boxing referee Joe Cortez won the fight against the COVID-19 virus.
While still in a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Puerto Rican revealed to the medium that the last two tests to detect the coronavirus were negative. The process of going home under the care of the doctors after nine weeks is starting soon.
“I’ll be in rehab for about a day and then go homeCortez said from Las Vegas. “I was on the strings but I stayed strong because I’m not going to lose this fight for me, my family and my people from Puerto Rico”.
Cortez was hospitalized last November and was connected to a ventilator to help him breathe. However, he assured that he only connected one hose to improve oxygenation of the lungs.
I was on the strings but I stayed strong because I will not lose this fight for me, my family and my people from Puerto Rico
-Joe Cortez / Former Boxing Referee
“This (coronavirus) is serious, but I can say that I am clean. In the two tests they did, I came out negative. I no longer have the virus and we are moving forward. I feel fine. I had never experienced anything like this and we need to learn to listen to the doctors, keep our distance, use masks, not be in large groups and stay at home as much as possible, ”he warned.
“This is not a joke, it is real and we have to take care of each otherHe continued.
Cortez explained that, as part of the rehabilitation process, she will have to regain movement of her limbs after spending so many weeks in bed.
“They will walk, stand and teach me to put on my clothes after almost two months in the hospital,” he said.
Were you afraid, he was asked.
“To be honest, I wasn’t afraid because my doctor took me to a medical emergency to start treatment right away. You think the worst, but there’s a God in my corner. I want to go to Puerto Rico to help people and explain that COVID-19 is serious because life is important”He concluded.
Cortez, 75, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. He has made more than 900 official fights in rental boxing, of which 170 for world titles. The last time he was assigned to a match was in 2012 for Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez against Josesito López.