During a WBF African lightweight title match at the Greville Convention Centre in Durban in South Africa, boxer Simiso Buthelezi had to be rushed to the hospital after trying to punch an imaginary opponent. The match was between himself and Siphesihle Mntungwa and he ended up in the hospital despite winning the bout.
According to TPS;
The alarming scene took place Sunday during a WBF African lightweight title match at the Greville Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa. Simiso Buthelezi fought Siphesihle Mntungwa for the title and appeared to be winning as he punched him through the ropes in the 10th round.
After the ref got things back in order, it was clear Buthelezi was unfit to continue. Buthelezi swung his fists at thin air, seemingly trying to box the turnbuckle.
The referee immediately called an end to the contest.
Tim Boxeo reported that Buthelezi would likely have won a 10-round decision had he fought until the final bell. Dr. David Abassi, a ringside doctor, called the situation “very scary” in a video sent to TMZ Sports.
“The ringside referee immediately stops the fight, and I think that’s absolutely the right call,” said Abassi.
“As a ringside doctor at these fights, what we’re concerned about is the symptoms of concussion, but what we can never really rule out is something more severe, like a brain bleed.”
Sadly, his condition hasn’t gotten better.
South African lightweight boxer Simiso Buthelezi is in an induced coma at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, South Africa, after starting to shadow box, with his back to his opponent, during a WBF All Africa title fight on the weekend.
Buthelezi, a recent university graduate in botany and zoology, was taken to hospital, and was placed into a coma in ICU at 11 p.m. He remains in a coma, with doctors indicating a bleed on his brain as the cause of his condition.
The mystery is now not what caused Buthelezi’s disorientation, but rather how he got the bleed in the first place. He endured no heavy blows to the head during the fight, and his trainer said afterwards that he was fine ahead of the bout.
Trainer Bheki Mngomezulu said on Monday, per News24: “There wasn’t anything untoward in the fight and in training. He was leading the fight on points before the unfortunate incident occurred.
“I really can’t explain what happened, to be honest. It was bewildering, but in his training and in the build-up to the fight, there was nothing untoward with regards to his condition. He was in good nick before the fight.”
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