A disoriented Simiso Buthelezi during a bout in South Africa. –SABC SPORTS LIVE SCREENGRAB
South African boxer Simiso Buthelezi died Tuesday night, two days after being placed in an induced coma. He was 24.
Buthelezi was rushed to the hospital Sunday after a bizarre ending to his WBF All Africa lightweight title bout with Siphesihle Mntungwa.
Buthelezi knocked Mntungwa through the ropes in the 10th and final round, but it was Buthelezi who appeared to be disoriented after the exchange. He started throwing punches aimlessly and nowhere near his opponent before the referee stopped the fight.
Very scary in South Africa please 🙏🏼 for Simiso Buthelezi (4-1). At 2:43 of the 10th & final round, Siphesihle Mntungwa (7-1-2) falls through the ropes but then Buthelezi appears to lose his understanding of the present situation. Mntungwa takes the WBF African lightweight title pic.twitter.com/YhfCI623LB
— Tim Boxeo (@TimBoxeo) June 5, 2022
Boxing South Africa released a statement Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness for Boxing South Africa and the Buthelezi family to announce the passing away of Mr Simiso Buthelezi, who passed away last night on June 7 in hospital in Durban,” the statement read. “Towards the end of his bout, Mr Buthelezi collapsed and was taken to hospital and it was discovered that he suffered a brain injury which resulted in internal bleeding. At the hospital, Mr Buthelezi was given the best care possible but he succumbed to the injury.”
Buthelezi entered the fight with a 4-0 record as a professional. Mntungwa was awarded the victory by TKO.
BSA added that there will be an independent medical review of the tragedy while trainer Bheki Mngomezulu said Buthelezi was perfectly healthy during the build-up to the bout. With reports from Agence France-Presse