Boxing star chokes up before incredible post-fight revelation

AMERICAN boxing commentator Xavier Porter said it best: “That’s more than a role model. That’s a hero”.

He was stunned — just like everyone else at the Twin Rivers Casino in Rhode Island after witnessing teenage fighter Michael Valentin reveal his jaw-dropping secret.

The kid from Providence was supposed to be celebrating the fourth win of his career — instead he chose this moment — the highlight of his career — to announce his medical condition to the world.

Fighting on the undercard of the Ray Oliveira-Edwin Soto fight night, Valentin was awarded the fourth victory of his career via a unanimous judges decision against Demetrius Wilson.

When asked to address his home crowd, Valentin grabbed the microphone off the ring announcer and proceeded to thank event organisers and the crowd before revealing he was going to be forced to take a step back from boxing.

“I’m a going to take a break after this fight,” he said.

“I know it’s going to hurt me, but, all my life, I dealt with adversity.”

That’s when he needed a moment to compose himself, visibly taking a final, comfortable moment where his secret remained a secret.

Then he came right out and said it.

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