Simiso Buthelezi, dead, after WBF All Africa title fight
Simiso Buthelezi, a boxer from South Africa, had been placed in a medically induced coma following a fight this past weekend that resulted in bleeding on the brain.
Buthelezi was involved in a contest against Siphesihle Mntungwa in a WBF All Africa title fight when he became disoriented.
Mntungwa was knocked into the ropes and then Buthelezi turned away and began swinging at an opponent who wasn’t there. That’s when the referee stepped in and stopped the contest, prompting officials to take the troubled fighter for medical assistance.
See video below.
I was at the #boxing in KZN yesterday and this is one of the strangest and saddest things I’ve seen in the sport. Thoughts and prayers with Simiso Buthelezi who is now in an induced coma in hospital 🙏🏿🙏🏿 @SABC_Sport #SizenzaZonke pic.twitter.com/1097yFtKmY
— Tracksuit (@ThabisoMosia) June 6, 2022
“He is not in a good health condition at all, he is critical but stable,” doctor Buyi Mabaso-Dlamini told Sowetan Live on Tuesday. “We discovered that he bled on the brain and sadly his condition does not allow the doctors that are treating to operate at the moment due to the condition.”
Promoter Zandile Malinga has promised to take care of the medical bills for Buthelezi according to the report.
Judges officiating the contest had Buthelezi up on the scorecards and it appears as if he did not sustain many damaging blows in the 10-round fight, which is why medical officials now believe the injury may have come prior.
“Another suspicion is that he may have suffered an injury before Sunday’s fight,” said Mabaso-Dlamini. “It could be injuries building up all the years. His condition deteriorated when he was rushed to the hospital. But he was worse on his arrival at the hospital than when he left Greyville. We trust in God that a miracle can still happen.”
UPDATE: On Tuesday morning it was reported that Buthelezi has died in hospital.
South African boxer Simiso Buthelezi has died in hospital after suffering a brain injury which caused him to throw punches at thin air during his fight (the video of which went viral) at the weekend.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) June 8, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with Buthelezi’s friends and family.
