Brown Hospitalized Before Fight : Boxing: Bout against WBC middleweight champion Terry Norris is called off when challenger complains of dizziness and requires medical attention.

LAS VEGAS — Simon Brown went to a hospital complaining of dizziness about four hours before he was to challenge World Boxing Council middleweight champion Terry Norris Saturday night and the fight at Caesars Palace was called off.

“The fight is off,” promoter Dan Duva said. “The whole show is off.”

Dr. Flip Homansky, a physician for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said Brown, 29, a former welterweight champion, was taken to Valley Hospital about 3:15 p.m. He said Brown was suffering from an inner ear infection and chest pains. His heart was checked and was found to be all right.

Debbie Munch, director of public relations for Caesars Palace, quoted Brown as saying after about three hours at the hospital, “If I knew they were going to keep me here this long, I never would have come here. My condition is fine. I just felt a little dizzy. As far as I’m concerned, I’m ready to fight. I was ready to go. They can reschedule this fight tomorrow as far as I’m concerned.”

Duva said the fight might be rescheduled for December.

Norris was told by manager Joe Sayatovich at about 5:15 p.m., as the fighter was preparing to go to the arena, that the bout was off.

“It probably hit him harder than Simon Brown was going to hit him,” Sayatovich said. “He was just demoralized. His first words were, ‘You sure, man?’

“Your immediate reaction is to be suspect, but the young man is in the hospital and he’s had blood drawn,” Sayatovich said. “Something obviously is wrong with him.

“You wouldn’t want him to go into the ring after an anxiety attack if you bet on him,” said Sayatovich, who earlier had suggested Brown might have suffered from anxiety.

Norris was a 6 1/2-1 favorite.

“I believe Simon Brown wanted to fight for the title,” Duva said. “I believe his people thought he could win. Unless something happened since yesterday that I don’t know about, I believe him.”

James Cook, Brown’s adviser, disclosed that the fighter had gone to the Las Vegas Medical Clinic earlier in the week because of dizziness. The clinic is operated by Dr. Elias Ghanem, a member of the state commission.

Bob Greenway, an HBO executive, said neither the cable network, which was to televise the fight, the promoter nor the commission knew anything of the previous visit.

Brown was hospitalized for five days from dehydration after losing the WBC welterweight title on a 12-round decision to Buddy McGirt last Nov. 29.

Homansky said he knew that Brown had complained of chest pains on other occasions and that the fighter had been given a heart check and clearance at George Washington University Hospital last Feb. 12.

Brown was checked at Valley Hospital by Dr. Anthony Frederick, who gave him a battery of tests.

“In my discussion with Dr., Frederick, I was told Simon felt he could not protect himself,” Homansky said. “The doctor concluded that a fighter who is dizzy cannot defend himself.”

When Brown went to the hospital, he took his boxing gear with him.

Brown and Norris each had received $50,000 that was not refundable, but the undercard fighters will not be paid, said Duva, who added that the promotion lost about $90,000. HBO and Caesars Palace also lost money.

Norris was to have made $1 million and Brown $230,000.