Newz Forum: BOXING: Hill hurt shoulder after slipping on stairs

Associated Press
BISMARCK, N.D. -- A shoulder injury suffered by Virgil Hill could force the North Dakota boxer to postpone his next fight, his manager says.


Hill was scheduled to fight Jean-Marc Mormeck on April 17 in New York's Madison Square Garden. Hill's manager, Bill Sorensen, said the shoulder injury likely will mean the bout will be delayed until May 22 and will be moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where it was initially scheduled.


Hill, 40, a four-time world champion, suffered a ligament tear in his left shoulder about six weeks ago when he slipped on a flight of stairs, Sorensen said. It is the same shoulder Hill had surgery on after fighting Henry Maske in 1996.


"We worked so hard to get [promoter] Don King to move the fight out of South Africa, but that's probably where it's going to be," Sorensen said.



"From a boxing standpoint, in my opinion Virgil Hill doesn't have a whole lot left to prove," Sorensen said. "But from a marketing standpoint, there have been all kinds of missed opportunities. Being part of a big show would have been a big plus."



Hill's pro debut was a 1984 second-round knockout of Arthur Wright at the Garden. His fight against Mormeck was to be part of a Don King Productions multititle card at the Garden featuring World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John Ruiz.



Hill (49-4) will be attempting to regain the WBA cruiserweight belt he lost to Mormeck in 2002 in Mormeck's home country of France. Hill has not fought since a decision over Donny Lalonde in Winnipeg last summer.