Former boxing referee Joe Cortez defeats COVID-19

Former professional boxing referee Joe Cortez won the fight against COVID-19 virus.

Although he remains in a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Puerto Rican revealed to this environment that the last two tests for coronavirus were negative. The process of returning home after nine weeks in the care of doctors will begin shortly.

“I’ll be in rehab for a day or so and then I’ll go home“Cortez from Las Vegas said. “I was on the ropes, but I stayed strong because I will not lose this fight for me, my family and my people in Puerto Rico“.

Cortez was hospitalized in November last year and was connected to a ventilator to help him breathe. However, he said he has a single tube connected to improve oxygenation of the lungs.

I was on the ropes, but I stayed strong because I will not lose this fight for me, my family and my people in Puerto Rico

-Joe Cortez / Former boxing referee

“This (coronavirus) is serious, but I can say I’m clean. In the two tests they did, I came out negative. I don’t have the virus anymore and we’re moving forward. I feel good. We had never been through such a thing and we have to learn to listen to doctors, to keep our distance, to use masks, not to be in large groups and to stay at home as long as possible “, he warned.

“This is not a joke, it is real and we have to take care of each other“He continued.

Cortez explained that as part of the rehabilitation process, he will have to regain his limb movement after spending so many weeks in bed.

“They will make me walk, sit and learn to put on my clothes after almost two months in the hospital,” he said.

Were you afraid? He was asked.

“Honestly, I was not afraid, because my doctor brought me to the emergency room to start treatment immediately. You think it’s 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”, A conchis El.

Cortez, 75, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. He has formalized more than 900 wrestling matches in boxing, of which 170 for world titles. The last time he was assigned to a fight was in 2012 for Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez against Josesito López.