Monty Betham during a photoshoot ahead of his Fight For Life boxing bout against Carlos Spencer. Photosport studios, Auckland. 3 October 2014. Photo: William Booth/www.photosport.co.nz
Monty Betham during a photoshoot ahead of his Fight For Life boxing bout against Carlos Spencer. Photosport studios, Auckland. 3 October 2014. Photo: William Booth/www.photosport.co.nz
Monty Betham expects to know if he can continue his boxing career by the end of this month.
The former New Zealand Warriors rugby league captain, television personality and noted pugilist pulled out of a defence of his national cruiser weight belt in Taranaki in June after a MRI scanrevealed some issues and hasn't fought since.
Betham, 38, updated boxing fans on his situation when he told corporate guests at the Joseph Parker-Alexander Dimintrenko fight in Auckland on Saturday night that he has a specialist appointment later this month where he will have further MRI scans which will determine whether he continues fighting.
He was scheduled for a rematch with James Langton whom he defeated in an unanimous points decision when the pair met in Auckland late last year.
Betham did not want to elaborate on his condition yesterday, and it's understood the irregularity was picked up in a routine scan rather than the popular sportsman encountering any worrying health symptoms.
Betham has an 8-1 record in the cruiser weight division after taking up boxing after retiring from rugby league.
It was anticipated that his rematch with Langton, who has a 10-4 record, would also be for the IBO Asia Pacific belt and would help him towards a possible tilt at the IBO world title.
