Update: Richard Contreras’ Surgery Successful

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Battling Back From A Broken Jaw

The healing has begun.

After suffering a broken jaw in his February 24 “Fight of the Night” bout versus Daniel “El Cuate” Quevedo, Richard “El Terminador” Contreras (9-0-1, 8 KOs) is already back in training mode–at least mentally. For the next five or six months, he won’t be able to go hard at the gym, but the 22-year-old promises to stay strong both mentally and physically. And he can’t wait to return to the ring.

In this exclusive update with the Thompson Boxing prospect, the slugger tells me what it was like spending his birthday visiting various doctors, after going through five nights in excruciating pain after his jaw injury. His trainer/manager Joe Esquivel, out of the Riverside Lincoln Boxing Gym, speaks of his young charge’s heart, toughness and will after battling back from two knockdowns to get a majority draw in the super bantam brawl that had the crowd screaming in appreciation. The fractured jaw happened after Quevedo threw a controversial late punch after the bell, for which he was docked a point. Coach Esquivel also notes the loneliness and long hours spent at the hospital waiting alone and isolated that no one realizes. A boxer’s life is never easy.

But Contreras is now on the mend, healing quickly and more importantly, focusing on the future with plenty of positive thinking in play.

For this prospect on the rise, his injury is just a blip on the radar as he promises to come back stronger than ever after his surgery last Wednesday.

How did he get through the surgery?

“My surgery was like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” the down-to-earth boxer laughs. “I have never been through any surgery! But it wasn’t bad once they put the anesthetic and gave me the medicine that puts you to sleep. Once it was over I woke up and everything was gone!”

It’s been a week now since the successful operation to repair his jaw. “Now I’m just in a lot of pain; nothing medicine couldn’t take care of,” Richard further explains. “But my mom, my sisters, my dad, my friends and Coach Joe were there to support me.”

He now has metal work in his gums helping to heal and repair his jaw and I wonder how this is affecting his boxer’s diet.

“As of right now I can’t eat solid foods….only smoothies and blended foods,” the Perris fighter, promoted by Thompson Boxing Promotions, says, “but I’m still gonna maintain my weight by eating all the necessary nutrients to maintain health. I think I will lose a lot of weight; but like my coach said, I will not lose my power! Thank God.”

When does he plan on returning to the gym, and what has he learned from this experience?

“As of right now I will take a break from the gym till I get better and at my 100% to hit it harder than ever!” this humble young man states. “I learned a lot from this experience. Not only can I not get confident in there but I always have to keep my hands up at all times, like they say! I always have to be aware and never underestimate my opponent.”

While the next few months will be spent recovering from the battle-injury, his coach is confident Contreras will come back even more of a warrior.

Trainer Esquivel has already mentioned one name they are gunning for in the future: Randy Caballero.

“We’re coming after you!” Coach Joe says in regards to the SoCal champ from Coachella. And right before Richard (nicknamed “The Terminator”) went into surgery, his coach said he had a message for everyone: “I’LL BE BACK!”

“The next six months holds a lot of recovering–and planning what will definitely be a good year after recovery!” Contreras tells me. “Everyone was very happy with my performance and looking foward to watching me fight again, so after all this is over I will be stronger and MORE determined to win! With God, family, friends and a great coach nothing can hold me back.”

Look for Richard “El Terminador” Contreras to be back in the ring soon.

Hospital Photos Courtesy of Team Contreras/ Ring Photos by Marlene Marquez

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Michele Chong has been involved in the sport of boxing for over a decade. Her “Chatter Box” column covers a variety of subjects in both professional and amateur boxing, and features exclusive one-on-one interviews, recaps of fight events, shows and tournaments, book/film reviews and much more. Inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008, she is also a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, Golden State Boxer’s Association and the Burbank Boxing Club. Michele is also involved in many non-profit and charitable organizations.