Filipino boxer leaves ICU in Japan hospital
Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
Filipino featherweight boxer Tranquilino "Ayon" Naranjo Jr. was moved out of the intensive care unit of the Yokohama Rosai Hospital Tuesday afternoon after spending two critical days there following a six-round fight with Jorge "El Niño de Oro" Linares of Venezuela Sunday night at the Yokohama Arena.
Talking to attending doctor Yuhiro Yamanaka through interpreter Yuko Takei, INQ7.net learned that Naranjo may have to spend three to four more weeks here until his condition improves.
According to Takei, who was born in the Philippines and a migrant workers' rights advocate here, "Hindi raw siya papauwiin hangga't di siya magaling. He has a fever at nasusuka pa siya." (He won't be allowed to go home until he's better. He has a fever and is still vomiting).
Yamanaka said the 21-year-old boxer from Bukidnon province is still feeling nauseous because of a clot in his brain. He said the hospital staff is trying to remove the clot through medication so that Naranjo may not have to undergo brain surgery.
Takei interpreted for the Japan Boxing Commission during the fight. She said that the Venezuelan boxer, who was taller and heavier than 122-pound Naranjo, pummeled at his head, unknowingly aggravating an earlier head injury.
She said the boxer figured in a motorcycle accident about a week before the fight.
At ward room number 513 Tuesday evening, Naranjo said he was feeling much better and even answered the nurses' questions about his health and memory through Takei, who told him that he would have to continue to be nourished through intravenous feeding until he is able to take in solid food.
Meanwhile, Consul General Claro Cristobal of the Philippine embassy in Tokyo said embassy staff members "have seen [Naranjo], and the embassy has full and regularly updated info on him."
