DR. Jeffrey J. Roth, the plastic surgeon, who treated Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao after his “Fire Power” showdown with World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto to drain some blood from his right ear, said the bleeding was far from the boxer’s brain and there’s no cause for concern.
In an exclusive interview with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Dr. Roth allayed concerns among Filipino boxing fans following reports that some blood and fluid had to be drained from Pacquiao’s ear, first after he scored a 12th-round TKO over Cotto, and then the following day.
Dr. Roth said he understood the concern. “Manny is a terrific representative of the Filipino people. He is a great fighter and I have always found him to be a great person as well.”
Concern mounted after Pacquiao’s mother Dionesia had pleaded with her son to retire after his record-breaking seventh world title in seven weight divisions, fearing that he could get seriously hurt if he continues to fight. But Pacquiao gave no indications of what he plans to do.
Asked whether there was any danger that the blood may have emanated from an injury to the brain or anywhere else that poses a threat, Dr. Roth replied: “No. The bleeding that he had was in his ear under his skin. It is far from his brain or anywhere that may cause a significant health problem.”
When Standard Today inquired about what caused the bleeding, Dr. Roth explained that there are “vessels in the space between the skin of the ear and the cartilage of the ear. Sometimes these vessels can leak and cause a collection of blood between the cartilage and the skin.”
Dr. Roth indicated this was normal for fighters.
He said many fighters get hematomas (blood collections) in their ears. “One needs to drain the blood and fluid so that it does not scar poorly and form a disfigured ‘cauliflower’ ear.”
He said that the blood could have come from blood vessels in the area between the cartilage and the skin of the ear, adding that sometimes these can be damaged and then leak during ring training, sparring or in a boxing match.
The doctor also informed that the physician from the Nevada State Athletic Commission “evaluated Manny and there was no indication of anything wrong inside Pacquiao’s head.”
Pacquiao’s conditioning expert Alex Ariza revealed that the cartilage ruptured very mildly during training camp. “We were treating it throughout. But Cotto clearly landed some good shots on that ear and it ruptured badly.”
The executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, lawyer Keith Kizer told Standard Today that after the fight “both boxers were in good spirits and there were no major concerns.”
At the same time, Kizer made it clear that Dr. Roth does not work for the NSAC but was brought in by Top Rank.
Ariza said that while Pacquiao hadn’t spoken about what he’d like to do next or whom he wants to fight, “Manny loves his fans, he loves the sport, he loves the attention and I don’t see Manny going away from the sport for a while.”
At the same time, Ariza expressed the hope that “ if getting into politics is what Pacquiao wants to do, more power to him but I hope it doesn’t interfere with his boxing.”
