Joe Cortez will soon leaving hospital

Renowned Hall of Famer referee Joe Cortez has fought the Covid-19 coronavirus for 9 weeks.

Although he is still in a Las Vegas hospital, the Puerto Rican veteran revealed that the last two tests to detect the coronavirus were negative and he is already in the process of returning home under the care of doctors.

“I will be in rehab for a few days. I was on the ropes, but I stayed strong because I am not going to lose this fight for myself, my family and my people from Puerto Rico.

‘I no longer have the virus and we are moving forward. I feel good. I`ve never been through something like this and learned to listen to the doctors, keep our distance, wear the masks, not be in large groups and stay home as long as possible. This is not a joke, it is real and we have to take care of ourselves for the sake of others, “Cortez said in an interview.

Cortez, 75, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. He worked in more than 900 professional fights, 170 of them involving world titles. The last time he was assigned to a fight was in 2012 when Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez knocked out Josesito López.