Former Warriors captain Monty Betham has called time on his boxing career because of a major health scare.
The 38-year-old made the decision in consultation with former Kiwis doctor Chris Hanna after suffering from a brain bleed.
The problems began while he was preparing to defend his New Zealand cruiserweight title in June, following a sparring session with training partners Leki Maka and Mokai Parahau.
"That night I didn't quite feel right," Betham told the New Zealand Herald. "I was coughing and I would feel a bit of pain behind the back of my head."
The symptoms continued the next day and after advice from Hanna he decided to take a concussion test, which he passed, but things soon got worse.
"My body started stiffening up to the point where I couldn't get out of bed.
"It was frightening - it felt like someone was stabbing me every time I moved."
That was when Betham's worst fears were realised. An MRI scan revealed a brain bleed, and he was nearly paralysed with pain.
"The fluid leaked down the spine into the lumber area which just crippled me," he told the paper. "The scary thing is if that hadn't happened, I would have fought because I passed the concussion test. I could have been history."
(Photosport)
Despite being given the all-clear to return to combat, Betham refuses to even contemplate sparring again.
The father of two believes the risks don't come close to out-weighing any rewards.
"You can't gamble like that. If you think about what's important to life, there is nothing more important than family.
"For a brief moment when I was told 'you're clear', I wondered 'can I fight?' But then I thought, that's what they all say."
Betham's only professional loss in nine fights came against Shane Cameron, and that is what the nine-Test veteran looks back at with the most pride.
"Winning a New Zealand title was great, but I never felt as good as I did in that loss, it felt amazing.
"Shane was world-ranked at that stage and I took the fight on two weeks' notice.
"Shane is a hero of mine."
Newshub.
