Bristol boxer Sarkozi set for ring return after recovering from a stroke
Most boxers will tell you the fight of their life happened inside the ring, but for Bristol’s Dan Sarkozi it’s a different story as he is set to return to the ring after suffering a stroke.
The 30-year-old, who has a record of 10-2, is due to fight on Saturday 5th October at Action Indoor Sports in what will be his first fight in 729 days.
The super-welterweight’s ever-improving career was brought to an immediate halt in November 2017 when he suffered a stroke during a training session.
However, a stroke and a heart operation later, the Bristol boxer has been cleared to fight by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Reflecting back on his experience, Sarkozi says he recognised he was suffering symptoms of a stroke, but simply couldn’t believe he was having one after surviving a full training camp.
“Before the stroke my manager Chris Sanigar had lined up a fight with Bradley Pryce, which would have been a step up in terms of level of opponent. So, I very much felt like 2018 would have been my year,” he said.
“I can remember everything from when it happened. I walked into the gym 10 days before I was due to fight Pryce, so I was as fit as a fiddle.
“I was talking to my promoter (Jamie Sanigar) and I started to slur my words. Then I tried to rearticulate myself but I just couldn’t talk.
“It felt like someone had cracked an egg inside my skull - I could feel the right side of my face and my arm just drop.
“After five minutes I got my speech back, so I thought it might have just been a funny turn but when I got back up to train my body just wouldn’t do anything.”
Zarkozi in action before suffering his stroke in late 2017.
Shortly after, Jamie Sanigar took Sarkozi to Bristol Royal Infirmary where an MRI scan confirmed the 30-year-old had suffered a stroke, making it unlikely he would ever enter a ring again.
Sarkozi then returned home, but was soon taken back to hospital after experiencing similar symptoms which later led to the Bristol fighter discovering he had a hole in his heart.
This would be the beginning of an agonising period for the fighter as he waited over a year to receive an operation to rectify his problem.
During his recovery, Sarkozi says he endured a tempestuous relationship with the sport of boxing, as he waited to learn whether he would be allowed to fight again.
The Bristol fighter admitted it was an emotional moment when he was told he could fight again as his dream of becoming a world champion was restored.
“While I was recovering it was really tough, because I love the sport so much. I used to go and train the kids but that would then remind me that I couldn’t do it,” added Sarkozi.
“When I found out I was cleared to fight, it was quite emotional for a couple of minutes because there had been so many hurdles so I had to sit down to take it in.
“However, while it was mission accomplished to get back into the ring, it’s only a tiny step in the bigger picture I have of becoming a world champion.”
