The four-weight world champion, 62, was admitted to Strathfield Private Hospital approximately ten days ago after experiencing a worrying onset of severe fatigue, acute breathing difficulties, and general malaise. Since being admitted to the medical facility, Fenech has undergone a series of comprehensive diagnostic tests and medical procedures. Among these interventions, medical staff successfully removed a blood clot from his wrist. Doctors have also been closely monitoring him to investigate whether a potentially life-threatening staph infection—which has plagued the boxing icon in the past—has made a dangerous return. However, hospital officials and family members have noted that a definitive recurrence of the serious infection has not yet been officially confirmed by his medical team.
Best, who shares a baby daughter with Fenech’s daughter Kayla, chose to speak openly about his father-in-law’s fragile health condition while fielding questions from the media about the profound influence the boxing great has had on his athletic career. The Newcastle Knights centre is currently deep into preparations for his upcoming Australian Test debut against Fiji, but he deliberately took a moment out of his busy international schedule to acknowledge Fenech’s latest battle and express his unwavering support.
"Jeff has been massive for me, I just want to give a quick shout-out to him," Best told reporters. "He’s actually in hospital at the moment. I’m thinking of him. He’s tough, he’s always a fighter."
Best elaborated on how instrumental the legendary fighter has been in shaping his professional mindset, noting that Fenech had become an invaluable and trusted source of mentorship as he worked tirelessly toward earning the right to represent his country on the international rugby league stage.
"Jeff has done a lot for me in my career," Best continued. "I was visiting him last week and he’s always giving me tips on what to do and how to be better. It’s special having a father-in-law like that who’s a four-time world champion. He’s an icon in Australia and it’s special having a bond like that with him."
When pressed by reporters about the true severity of Fenech’s current medical condition, Best maintained an optimistic outlook, drawing parallels between the boxing legend’s resilient personal character and the gritty determination that defined his legendary career inside the squared circle.
"Yeah, he will be right. He’s always a fighter. He’s been in there with a few heart problems and stuff, but he’ll be good," Best added.
Beyond the immediate emotional impact on his family, Fenech’s sudden hospitalisation has also significantly disrupted the professional training preparations of elite boxer Tim Tszyu. Fenech assumed the role of Tszyu’s head trainer back in July, bringing his wealth of championship experience to the fighter’s camp and successfully guiding him to a commanding unanimous decision victory over American star Errol Spence Jr. That high-profile triumph was widely celebrated and served to firmly set up Tszyu’s aggressive pursuit of a world championship title in a second distinct weight division.
Tszyu had publicly credited the veteran trainer with helping inspire that career-defining result, making Fenech’s absence from the gym a notable hurdle in his upcoming campaign. With Fenech temporarily sidelined and focusing entirely on his recovery, fellow trainer Basil Nassis has stepped in to take charge of Tszyu’s rigorous day-to-day work in the gymnasium.
The upcoming bout against Erislandy Lara for the WBA middleweight world title is widely expected to take place on home soil in Australia sometime in November or December. Despite his current hospital confinement, reports indicate that Fenech remains hopeful about his recovery timeline and aspires to be involved in the fight camp once he is discharged. However, industry insiders suggest that it is unlikely he will be able to perform physically demanding tasks such as padwork during the crucial final phases of the fight build-up.
This latest health scare is unfortunately not the first time the boxing icon has faced severe cardiac crises. Fenech has a well-documented history of serious heart complications that have required major surgical interventions over the years.
In October 2019, while working internationally in Thailand to prepare Australian boxer Jack Brubaker for a high-stakes bout against Tim Tszyu, Fenech was rushed to a medical facility for emergency open-heart surgery after falling seriously ill. Years later, in 2024, he was forced to endure another grueling six-hour open-heart operation while fighting off a separate, severe systemic infection.
Known universally across the sporting world by his iconic moniker, "The Marrickville Mauler," Jeff Fenech carved his name into the history books as one of Australia’s greatest and most accomplished boxers. His legendary career featured remarkable world championship victories across four different weight divisions, cementing his legacy as a trailblazer of the sport. As he faces this latest health battle from a hospital bed in Strathfield, family, friends, and the broader Australian sporting community are holding out hope that the legendary fighter will once again overcome the odds.
