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.
At that point, Townsend was battling cancer and had to observe from a wheelchair as Ioka prepared for his first title defense. Townsend was resolute in seeing Ioka make his first defense, and entered the arena with Ioka on a hospital bed.