Derrick Jefferson in fight for life against coronavirus

By David Finger

Former world-ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Jefferson is fighting for his life in Michigan after testing positive for COVID-19.  According to WXYZ in Detroit, 52-year-old Jefferson is currently in a medically induced coma and a ventilator after being admitted to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.  However, family members told WXYZ that his condition is nonetheless improving.

Jefferson exploded onto the scene when he scored a knockout over Maurice Harris in November of 1999.  The HBO televised fight is widely regarded as one of the most explosive and exciting heavyweight fights of the decade, and in 2001 Jefferson fought Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO world heavyweight title, losing by way of knockout. His last fight was a stoppage loss to DaVarryl Williamson in 2005.  His record stands at 28-4-1, 21 KOs.

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  • I hope he recovers well! I also loved his fight with David Izon. Derrick was must see tv in the late 90s early 2000s. He got pounded by Klitschko but it was fun and he came to fight.

  • I knew Derrick in the late 90s-early 2000s. He is a great guy. He was extremely gracious when he was on top. I pray he recovers and his family is healthy and safe.

  • The concept to understand in this case is since the COVID-19 is a new strand of the many corona viruses out there, some people will react with gross sepsis once exposed. Gross sepsis is where the body is in a “massive” infectious process and many organs (including the lungs) can either shut down or become inadequate for self-sufficiency. Artificial life support may be needed to assist the lungs or allow the body to rest under the use of heavy sedation til recovery is observed. Folks, this is no joke. I have already seen a few deaths myself from this animal-derived virus. COVID-19 does not discriminate and everyone is at risk. For all you conspiracy theorists online, spend a day with me in a hospital setting and tell me this is a hoax.

    • Scooby, as I read, medical staff seems to be extremely busy providing medical attention and care to those affected. I’m surprised you gave the time to read and comment on a boxing forum.

      • Thank you for the comment. Yes, where I work it is busy. However, my call time at times is down time and I wait patiently in between patient loads. The call time intervals can be minutes, a few hours, etc in between patients. You get the picture.

        • Scooby, sure do. Even more admirable to see you take a pause to come here on your downtime.

    • First I hope he recovers. What they need to do is organize a UN taks force to investigate all those filthy live animal meat markets. This stuff is mild compared to whats like out there like bird flu with a 70% death rate. It just hasn’t figured out how to transmit human to human effectively. Plus SARS or MERS. Once that happens and one day it will your really going to have worldwide panic on your hands.

      • World Health Organizations need to try and convince China and other Asian countries to put an end to those filthy animal markets where these viruses jump from diseased animals to humans. Does China even have any Pubic Health inspections ?

        • I highly doubt they have any regulations for anything. Rivers are filthy. Smog is thick and corrosive. A bat probably flew over and pooped in a duck pen. Read the book the hot zone. This is nothing compared to whats coming.
          And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

          7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

          8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
          THE DOORS

          “The End”

          This is the end
          Beautiful friend
          This is the end
          My only friend

          The end
          Of our elaborate plans
          The end
          Of everything that stands
          The end
          No safety or surprise
          The end
          I’ll never look into your eyes
          Again

          • It has a lot to do with it. Its judgement coming down on the earth and its going to get a lot worse in every aspect. Look at how all the super powers are gearing up for war. Typhoons and Hurricanes are becoming worse and worse. Morality especially with far left endorsement has hit an all time low. Hey bud I can’t help whatever lifestyle your living is contrary to truth. Its convicting I know, but the reality of the situation is its the beginning of sorrows. A slow slide into death and destruction for all you scoffers out there.LOL

    • Why is it some people get the virus and have little to no symptoms and other’s get it and they get badly ill .

      • Probably genetics and how good your immune system is. Can you imagine EBOLA becoming airborne and easily transmittable? Everyone bleeding out everywhere. After it mutated with another viral form? 80% death rate?

    • People don’t understand math very well either. I told people 2 weeks ago we would hit 100k reported cases this week (provided we have the testing for it). People thought I was nuts, but it was a simple exponential calculation that everyone learned in high school at some point. People don’t seem to understand that once a virus hits a certain point it’s just going to spread exponentially without discrimination (especially if nothing is done to blunt it). This is why people need to pay attention in school. Both math and biology classes would have given you a good idea this wasn’t a hoax.

      Also, how are the hospitals holding up as of right now because we are still pre swell in most, if not all, places? If it’s getting tight now, we really have to ramp up.

    • How and why would I do this? What is conspiracy theory in your view? Which hospital? How do you know patients are dying of covid-19 and not underlying health conditions? What type of test do you do exactly? For your information, in Italy the avg. age of “covid casualty” is around 80. 99% of them have serious underlying health conditions. If a person like that dies, how do you know covid was the cause of death? Do you do autopsy? What is the accuracy of the rt-pcr test in establishing the viral load in the patient? I can tell you – pretty much zero. You seem to have a problem with see a difference between corelation and causation. Like all the medical profession (minus a few exceptions). And what about those really sick people who are pushed away because of this “virus”? But let’s start with a detailed scientific paper detailing the isolation/purification of the virus. Then please send me one proving the causation.

      • According to pretty much every country on this planet if you are under 50 years old and you do get the coronavirus there is a 0.1 to 0.3 percent of you dying. So most people who die from this are over 60 or have type of illness that lowers the immune system.

  • Wow, I would think Jefferson would be one who wouldn’t have such an adverse reaction to the virus. He’s relatively young, I don’t know what kind of shape he’s in these days, but as a former world class athlete, I imagine he still maintains some of his conditioning. The fact of the matter is-we have no idea how people will respond if exposed, regardless of age or physical fitness. I wish him luck and I’m sure he’ll pull through!

    • That is the scary part of viral infections. Even someone in physical top form can have an immune system totally compromised by any virus exposure. The survival rate can be determined on how one’s immune system reacts to the exposure of the invader. A dear close friend of mine at the age of 32 passed away in 2009 from the swine flu. She ran marathons, never consumed alcohol, and was in exceptional shape. Apparently, her immune system was overloaded by the exposure by the virus. Really hits home when someone close to you passes away from something close to this issue.

  • Praying that the Lord brings Mr. Jefferson through this, in Jesus’ name. ✝️

  • I have watched his fight with Maurice Harris more than once on youtube, such a wicked back and forth battle.
    I really hope he wins this battle as well!
    thoughts and prayers

    • Yes, I read he had a kidney transplant in the past. Makes a person wonder if he had diabetes or chronic hypertension. Yes, this is a guess, not a diagnosis.

  • Derrick was a Hell of a fighter in his era. Hope he’s able to beat this terrible virus. We’re all praying for his full recovery.

  • Hope he’s ok. Greatest knockout ever against Mo Harris. Keep fighting Champ

  • Prayers for this warrior. I remember that fight with Maurice Harris as I watched it live and man was that a war where both men were on the verge of victory and defeat over and over.

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