Torn Retinas Jeopardize Career of Featherweight Chavez (17-1-1)

John Chavez, a promising featherweight from Azusa, suffered torn retinas in both eyes in an eight-round bout Friday night at the Forum.

Chavez won a decision over Gabriel Castro, raising his record to 17-1-1. Acquaintances of Chavez afterward noticed one of his eyes was severely bloodshot.

When he awakened Saturday morning with obscured vision, Chavez sought medical attention. Saturday night, he underwent surgery at Century City Hospital for the repair of one eye. The second eye was repaired Monday.

“John is doing well right now, but he’s not out of the woods yet,” said Dr. Henry Ullman, who assisted during the surgeries. “Both retinas are now attached, but he faces several other procedures along the way.

“One complication he might face is the development of a cataract. And there’s a silicone oil in place in both eyes--they will have to be removed at some future point.

“He suffered giant retinal tears, not the simple retinal holes more common to boxers. Those are much easier to repair than what happened to John.”

Ullman called Chavez’s condition “satisfactory,” and said the boxer will be kept immobile for several days.

Chavez’s future as a boxer--at least in California--is in doubt, because the state has restrictive rules under which a boxer with a history of retinal problems can be licensed. Sugar Ray Leonard was denied permission to spar in California because he had had retinal surgery.