By this time, Townsend was suffering from cancer and had to look on from a wheelchair as Ioka trained for his first title defense. Townsend was determined to see Ioka make his first defense, and entered the arena with Ioka on a hospital bed.
By this time, Townsend's health was declining due to cancer, forcing him to watch from a wheelchair as Ioka trained for his initial title defense. Townsend was determined to witness Ioka's successful first defense, so he made his way into the arena on a hospital bed alongside Ioka.