PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - "Baby" Joe Mesi has withdrawn from his
April 4 fight against Terry "Hurricane" Smith because of a torn
shoulder muscle that will require him to rest for at least three
weeks.
"Joe is terribly disappointed," Jack Mesi, the fighter's
father, said Thursday. "This is just a temporary setback, that's
all. Joe will continue training to stay in good shape and keep his
weight down, but he can't do anything that involves using his
shoulder."
Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs), from Tonawanda, N.Y., was ranked in the top
10 before being diagnosed with brain bleeding following his
decision over Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas in March 2004. Mesi did
not fight for two years, but is 7-0 since returning in April 2006.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-03-13-08 2032EDT