weight prospect Jesse Hart (21-0, 17 KOs), 27, the son of 1970s middleweight c

Pat Davison meets Petr Cech to discuss the harrowing time 10 years ago when his life hung in the balance following a head injury in a match at Reading - and the fortunate circumstances that mean hes here to tell the tale...A decade ago this week, Petr Cech returned home. Back to his wife and dog, away from the focus of the whole world.Only 10 days earlier, because of an injury suffered on a Premier League pitch, his life hung in the balance. Im not sure I knew that.I remember the incident, of course. Saturday, October 14, 2006, Chelsea away at Reading. Just seconds in and Cech slides in bravely to collect the ball at the feet of Stephen Hunt, who makes a challenge he has always said was unintentional but which saw his knee make contact with the goalkeepers head.I remember the controversy that surrounded that challenge. I recall some of the post-match comments and the headlines from what became a huge global story. But until I sat down with Cech this week and heard him talk of the harrowing minutes, hours and days that followed the challenge, moments he hasnt discussed too often, Im not sure I really realised how touch-and-go it was. Cech was injured early in the clash with Reading in October, 2006 Things could have been different, says the man who has since gone on to take his place among the leagues greatest ever goalkeepers.The doctors tried not to scare me too much and I never asked too much.But if you ask my wife, even now, she does not look too well. For her, the experience was a thousand times worse than it was for me.It was a very close call. Cech believes Arsenal are in a great position to end their wait for a first league title since 2004 Cech managed to crawl from the pitch himself but it was almost immediately clear he couldnt continue. He was stretchered down the tunnel, where he deteriorated further.I lost consciousness, then I came round again. Some people, they did not like me too much because I was confused and sometimes when youre confused you try to fight!He says this last bit with a smile, he cant remember what happened in the tunnel. In fact, after the coin toss and handshakes at the start of the game, he cant remember anything for the next three days. He says it helps. These arent his own painful recollections, other people have helped him fill in the gaps. Cech was stretchered off, but cant remember what happened in the tunnel It was the then-Chelsea doctor, Bryan English, who realised the seriousness of Cechs condition.It was at a specialist unit in nearby Oxford - thanks to emergency surgery at 1am - that the goalkeepers life was saved. Cech believes that if the incident had happened at another ground, further from that hospital, he probably wouldnt have made it.The decisions of Bryan and the medical staff and the proximity of Oxford - thats the combination that gave me a chance. Cech has paid tribute to the Chelsea medical staff who helped save him I had a depressed skull fracture. A few pieces of bone went in quite deep, that was the biggest danger.The more they go in, the left side of the brain (where Cech was injured) is quite an important centre of movement. Anything could happen.Two metal plates were fitted. The days he cant remember followed but gradually he did begin to recover. In terms of his career, Cech was told, at the very least, to forget the rest of the season. But just three months after his life-threatening injuries, he returned.I have to say a lot of people did not want me to return a quickly as I did. It was my decision and my will to come back to what I was used to doing and what I love, he says.Once the surgeon said the skull is strong enough with the helmet on, I decided to return to training with the team. Two days later, we travelled to Liverpool - which I did not tell my wife at the start, I told her Im just travelling with the team. The decisions of Bryan and the medical staff and the proximity of Oxford - thats the combination that gave me a chance. Petr Cech But the manager said to me, You want to go to watch or you want to play? You tell me.I said, OK, were already here. Lets try.There were times when people questioned whether hed be the same goalkeeper again. They took the headgear as evidence of fear. But, as he puts it: How can I be afraid when I cant remember anything?Cech has won two Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and a Champions League since the injury. To this day, he remains among the very best. Petr Cech gets the better of Jamie Vardy As for the Premier League, it changed for the better in the aftermath of what happened to Cech. Initially his treatment at the stadium was shrouded in controversy, with differing claims over when an ambulance was called and how long it took to arrive.But it led to the league having another look at how ready it was for a worst-case scenario.A tightening of regulations means every club is now obliged to have a doctor in the dugout, there must be two paramedics on the sidelines and an ambulance on standby at each stadium. The changes may have already saved a life.As human beings, we always need something to happen to improve, says Cech. Sland vs Arsenal October 29, 2016, 11:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Now the ambulance is always ready, the paramedics are always ready, people in the crowd can get help without risk.If you look at the Fabrice Muamba case, this is what helped save his life - the paramedics are there.If they have to come from the hospital, even one thats close, he would not be here.On and off the pitch, Petr Cech has made a huge contribution to this league. Were lucky to have him.See more from Patrick Davisons exclusive interview with Petr Cech on Premier League Live: Sunderland v Arsenal, 11.30pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1Also See:Sunderland v ArsenalWenger on safe standingCustom Nuggets T-shirts . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Custom Nuggets Jerseys . 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Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend.A roundup of the past weeks notable boxing results from around the world:Saturday at Las VegasManny Pacquiao W12 Jessie Vargas - Fight recap Wins a welterweight title Scores: 118-109 (twice), 114-113 Records: Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs); Vargas (27-2, 10 KOs)Rafaels remarks: Pacquiao, the 37-year-old Filipino legend, showed he still has it with this impressive one-sided win to regain a welterweight title (despite the horrendous 114-113 card turned in by judge Dave Moretti, who would have had it a draw had Pacquiao not scored a knockdown). It was Pacquiaos second lopsided win in a row since the loss to Floyd Mayweather in their 2015 mega fight and Pacquiaos first since his brief retirement following his win over Timothy Bradley Jr. in April and subsequent election to the senate in his home country. Pacquiao, a southpaw and boxings only eight-division world titleholder, may not have gotten the knockout he so badly wanted (because he hasnt had one since 2009) but he pounded Vargas, 27, of Las Vegas, with a variety of punches from angles, including a sharp straight left hand that dropped him in the second round.Vargas, who was making his first title defense, was game and landed some nice shots on Pacquiao, but he was outclassed by the all-time great, who put on the rousing performance with the supposedly retired Mayweather, his invited guest, sitting ringside with his daughter in a surprise appearance. It is clear the wheels are in motion for a rematch of boxing richest fight ever. Their first fight was a massively anticipated showdown but turned out to be a wholly forgettable fight and nothing more than a business transaction based on naked greed. But a rematch is inevitable since neither fighter can make anything close to what they will make to do it again.Jessie Magdaleno W12 Nonito Donaire Full undercard recap Wins a junior featherweight title Scores: 118-110, 116-112 (twice) Records: Magdaleno (24-0, 17 KOs); Donaire (37-4, 24 KOs)Rafaels remarks: Despite a scoring that many disagreed with, this was a helluva fight between a young up-and-comer in Magdaleno, a 24-year-old southpaw from Las Vegas, and a proud veteran four-division titleholder in Donaire, 33, a Philippines native living in Las Vegas, who was making his second title defense. They battled hard from the opening bell and by the time the fight was over both looked they had been in a tough fight. Magdaleno was cut over his left eye from an accidental clash of heads in the fourth round and Donaire had bruises and welts on his face and needed three stitches to close a cut around his right eye. Magdaleno put rounds in the bank in the first half of the fight but Donaire closed the fight in dominant fashion. The judges, however, seemed to ignore that. Many had the fight a draw or either man winning by a smidge. Judge Adalaide Byrds very wide scorecard seemed dramatically off with Donaire upset by the decision and asking for a rematch.Oscar Valdez TKO7 Hiroshige Osawa Retains a featherweight title Records: Valdez (21-0, 19 KOs); Osawa (30-4-4, 19 KOs)Rafaels remarks: Valdez, 25, of Mexico, could be on his way to major fights and big money but after winning a vacant world title by second-round knockout of Argentinas Matias Adrian Rueda in July, he got his title reign off to a strong start as he took apart mandatory challenger Osawa, 31, of Japan, who was taking a massive step up in opposition. Valdez brutalized him in a one-sided fight, dropping him with a clean right hand on the chin in the fourth round and battering him with a series of heavy blows in the seventh round until referee Vic Drakulich stopped the bout at 1 minute, 50 seconds. Now that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and adviser Al Haymon are willing to match their fighters, Valdez could find a wealth of quality opponents in his future, such as the Carl Frampton-Leo Santa Cruz II winner, the Jesus Cuellar-Abner Mares winner or Lee Selby.Zou Shiming W12 Prasitsak Phaprom Wins a vacant flyweight title Scores: 120-107 (twice), 119-108 Records: Zou (9-1, 2 KOs); Phaprom (39-2-2, 24 KOs)Rafaels remarks: In 2014, Zou, the two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist, dropped Phaprom twice and routed him by decision. Phaprom, 35, of Thailand, regrouped to win a dozen fights in a row by knockout and landed a rematch with Zou for one of the belts vacated by Juan Francisco Estrada. The rematch was equally one-sided as Zou, 35, scored a second-round knockdown on a clean right hand and won every round on each judges card except one. Phaprom was basically a punching bag for Zou, who was taller, stronger, quicker and plain old better. Its a huge win for Zou, who is Chinas most popular fighter and figures to make huge money there for as long as he can hang on to the belt.Also on the card, lightweight Robson Conceicao (1-0, 0 KOs), 28, made his professional debut less than three months after becoming the first Brazilian to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing, doing so at home in Rio de Janeiro Games. Conceicao, a three-time Olympian, cruised to a shutout decision (60-54 on all three scorecards) against Clay Burns (4-3-2, 4 KOs), 29, of Alexandria, Louisiana.Saturday at Potsdam, GermanyTyron Zeuge TKO12 Giovanni De Carolis Wins a super middleweight titlle Records: Zeuge (19-0-1, 11 KOs); De Carolis (24-7-1, 12 KOs)Rafaels remarks: On July 16, De Carolis, 32, of Italy, retained his world title by majority draw against Zeuge, 24, of Germany, in his first defense and a rematch was quickly arranged.dddddddddddd. The sequel was a thriller with a lot of back and forth action before the dramatic ending. Zeuge seemed to take command in the second half of the fight although both appeared exhausted as the fight went into the 12th round. But Zeuge mustered the energy to buckle De Carolis with a left hook that forced him to hold on. Zeuge nailed him with another hook to the head and he fell to the mat face first. He beat the count but took several more shots and seconds later fell into the ropes after taking a right to the body. De Carolis got tangled up in the ring ropes and as he got to his feet referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. waved off the fight at 2 minutes, 41 seconds. This was a very good fight.Friday at Corona, Calif.Taras Shelestyuk W10 Jaime Herrera Welterweight Scores: 96-93 (twice), 95-94 Records: Shelestyuk (15-0, 9 KOs); Herrera (15-4-1, 8 KOs)Rafaels remarks: Shelestyuk, 30, was a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist for Ukraine and now lives in Los Angeles, where he spars regularly with future Hall of Famer Shane Mosley. Headlining Showtimes ShoBox: The New Generation, he was a decided favorite against Herrera, but had his struggles in tight fight. Shelestyuk, a southpaw, found his groove in the second half of the fight and deserved the decision, although referee Raul Caiz Jr. docked a point from him for excessive holding in the fifth round. Herrera gave a big effort, but his skill set is just not on the same level as Shelestyuks. Herrera, 27, of Chicago, saw his three-fight winning streak go by the wayside.Constantin Bejenaru W10 Stivens Bujaj Cruiserweight Scores: 97-91 (three times) Records: Bejenaru (12-0, 4 KOs); Bujaj (16-1-1, 11 KOs)Rafaels remarks: In a battle of unbeaten undefeated fighters, Bejenaru, a 32-year-old southpaw from Moldova who fights out of Catskill, New York, survived a fifth-round knockdown on a left hook to win rather handily in a dirty fight filled with head butts and fouling. However, Bejenaru, who suffered a nasty cut over his left eye, was a lot busier and also benefited when referee Raul Caiz Sr. docked a point from Bujaj, 26, a native of Albania based in New York, for hitting on the break in the ninth round.Manuel Mendez KO1 Vitor Jones Freitas Lightweight Records: Mendez (13-1-2, 9 KOs); Freitas (12-1, 6 KOs)Rafaels remarks: Mendez, 26, of Indio, California and fighting in front of his home region fans, pulled an upset as he drilled Freitas, 23, of Brazil. Freitas, who is the nephew of Brazilian legend and former lightweight and junior lightweight titleholder Acelino Popo Freitas (who was ringside) went after Mendez, who is trained by Joel Diaz, early in the opening round and seemed to be in control. But then Mendez went on the attack and hammered Freitas with a left hook to the body. Freitas went down in major pain and referee Tom Taylor counted him out at 2 minute, 32 seconds. Freitas stayed down well after the count was complete.Friday at Las VegasAndy Vences Tech. Dec. 9 Casey Ramos Junior lightweight Scores: 88-83, 87-84, 86-85 Records: Vences (17-0, 10 KOs); Ramos (23-1,6 KOs)Rafaels remarks: It doesnt happen often, but Top Rank matched two of its undefeated prospects in the Solo Boxeo main event on UniMas. Vences, 25, of San Jose, California, and Ramos, 27, of Austin, Texas, but on a good display of boxing and both looked pretty good after a slow start. By the seventh round, Ramos was bleeding from his nose. An accidental head but opened a cut around Ramos left eye in the ninth round. Later in the round, referee Vic Drakulich had the ringside doctor take a look at Ramos eye and on the doctors advice stopped the bout at 1 minute, 12 seconds. They went to the scorecards for a technical decision and Vences came out on top in a competitive fight.Alex Saucedo vs. Raymond Tito Serrano Welterweight Scores: 77-74 (twice), 76-75 Records: Saucedo (23-0, 14 KOs); Serrano (21-4, 9 KOs)Rafaels remarks: Saucedo, 22, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a very bright prospect and took a bit of a step up in competition against Serrano, 27, of Philadelphia, who was fighting for the first time in 13 months and coming off a loss but whose defeats had only come to good opponents (Karim Mayfield, Emanuel Taylor and Brad Solomon). It was a tough fight but Saucedo had the better of the action, including late in the second round when he scored a knockdown with a right hand. Saucedo was the aggressor in an entertaining fight and this was the kind of win every prospect needs on his way to bigger and better things.Also on the card, Philadelphia super middleweight prospect Jesse Hart (21-0, 17 KOs), 27, the son of 1970s middleweight contender Eugene Cyclone Hart, knocked out Andre Hernandez (16-5-1, 7 KOs), 30, of Phoenix, at 1 minute, 59 seconds of the third round. Hart dropped Hernandez in the first round before finishing him with a flurry in the third round. ' ' '