Sponsored by
Socket to 'em
IRONMAN boxer John Keeton today revealed how he fought two brutal bouts despite suffering from a broken eye socket.
The Sheffield cruiserweight suffered the injury during a contest with Bruce Scott on TV's Prizefighter competition last month.
Not knowing the precise nature of the injury - and despite the pain - Keeton went on to beat tournament favourite Dean Francis before eventually being outpointed in the final by Ovill McKenzie.
"The day after the show I kept coughing blood up and I couldn't feel the top row of my teeth ... I still can't," says Keeton.
"Dominic Ingle (trainer) told me to get it sorted out at the doctors but I'm the type who won't go unless I'm dying.
"Then I went to the gym to do some weights and my mum and dad stormed in and told me I was going to hospital.
"At 37, I was being escorted by my parents to get it looked at!"
A detailed investigation revealed damaged nerves down the left side of his face and a fractured eye socket.
"It sounds worse than it is," says Keeton, who lives in Stradbroke.
The socket should all be healed up over the next three weeks or so.
"And the nerves might come back ... but it doesn't matter because it might mean I won't feel it when I get punched!
"I've had worse - like when I snapped a tendon in my left hand in the first round of a 12-rounder six or seven years ago. My hand blew up like a balloon and I could hardly take the glove off."
Keeton has been ordered to avoid sparring for a while, but is still doing gymwork in preparation for his next battle.
"I'm hoping to get a shot at the English or British title, hopefully in a show in Sheffield round about September" said Keeton (45 fights: 28 wins (KO 18) 17 losses.)
"Prizefighter was a fantastic experience and I can't wait to get back in the ring again."
Got a view? Add your comment below.
READ MORE
Watch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much more
Football headlines.
Football gossip.
Blades news
Blades watch 0809 - The season so far
Owls news
Owls watch 0809 - The season so far
Reds news.
Millers news.
More rugby.
More boxing.
Sports columnists.
All sport categories
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
