Lightweight boxer Simiso Buthelezi (Ganda Ganda) has passed on after suffering a brain damage injury following a bout on Sunday (5 June 2022) at Durban. The 24-year-old boxer was in his 10th round in World Boxing Federation All AFRICA fighting against his opponent Siphesihle Mntungwa when the referee stopped the match because the boxer was punching the air. He was rushed to the hospital and placed in an induced coma after.
On the 8 of June the boxing the governing body of the republic of Boxing SA issued the sad news regarding the passing of Mr. Buthelezi. Press Statement reads “ Boxing South Africa (BSA) has expressed its shock and sadness of the passing of Buthelezi, On the 5th June 20202 Mr. Buthelezi participated in a boxing Tournament hosted by Starline Boxing Promotions at Greyville, Durban. Towards the end of his Bout, Mr. Buthelezi collapsed and was taken to hospital it was recovered at the hospital that he suffered a brain injury which resulted in internal bleeding. At Hospital Mr. Buthelezi was given the best care but he, however, succumbed to the last night as aforesaid. Boxing South Africa will conduct an independent medical review of the injury and will then make a public result of that medical review”
"If you can watch the footage from the first round towards the last round, he was very good and there were no signs that this would happen, it took us by surprise." – Eric Sithole, Acting CEO – Boxing SA https://t.co/pzUstutiIo
— 702 (@Radio702) June 9, 2022
The visuals of the fight have since gone viral in that final boxing match which was seen punching the air after knocking his opponent down.
🚨 BREAKING: South African boxer Simiso Buthelezi has sadly died in hospital after suffering a brain injury.
Buthelezi was seen throwing punches at thin air during his fight at the weekend.
RIP pic.twitter.com/TXR7OJbLGl
— Boxing Noise🗣 (@BoxingNoise) June 8, 2022
Talking to the host of the Breakfast show on 702 Acting CEO of Boxing South Africa Eric Sithole said “No one was expecting that, he was very good. If you can watch the footage from the first round towards the last round, he was very good and there were no signs that this would happen, it took us by surprise. Boxing is very safe. It was perceived as a dangerous sport and some believe it is hence all these strict regulations and some have been complaining about the requirements”.
Part of the Attendees of the prestigious fight was the Kwa-Zulu Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Hlengiwe Mavimbela who was taken apart by this devastating news and expressed her heartfelt condolences “We are greatly saddened by the news of passing on of Mr. Buthelezi. We were hopeful that he would have recovered after the incident which happened on Sunday, On behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and the entire boxing fraternity the, May his soul rest in eternal peace”.
Boxing sports fanatics have been calling for stricter measures of the sport because of its critical injuries the sport comes with some suggestions including introducing Head gear to professional boxing. Last year another deadly incident occurred in Germany where an unbeaten German Boxer Musa Yamak died after suffering a heart attack. The 38-year-old Turkish-born boxer turned professional in 2017 and rose to fame after winning the WBFed International title in 2021.
According to the Journal of Combative Sport, from January 1960 to August 2011, there were 488 boxing-related deaths. The journal attributes 66 percent of these deaths to head, brain, or neck injuries; one was attributed to a skull fracture. It’s further elaborate that there are boxers with minimal involvement and those that are so severely affected that they require institutional care.
In several studies, 15-40 percent of ex-boxers have been found to have symptoms of chronic brain injury. Most of these boxers have mild symptoms. Recent studies have shown that most professional boxers (even those without symptoms) have some degree of brain damage. The Buthelezi family and boxing south Africa will in due course announce funeral arrangements.
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https://www.boxingsa.co.za/media-statement-issued-jointly-by-boxing-sa-and-buthelezi-family/
