In recent days, during a valid match for the World Boxing Federation All Africa Lightweight , in Durban, South Africa , he had felt ill and, completely confused, had started throwing punches at an imaginary opponent .
Today the news: Simiso Buthelezi died in hospital .
A story that leaves the boxing world in shock , also due to the way in which the tragedy occurred.
Buthelezi, a South African, was fighting in the ring against his compatriot Siphesihle Mntungwa and on the tenth round, after having cornered him, he suddenly turned around and started hitting the air , as if he was facing - in fact - an opponent who only he was able to see .
The referee, realizing that something was wrong, had interrupted the match. Then the boxer was rescued and taken to the hospital , where he went into a coma, apparently with brain damage .
In these hours the interim CEO of the South African boxing federation Nsikayezwe Sithole made the sad announcement, as reported by the Sowetan news site : “I received a call at midnight: Buthelezi is dead . This is very sad because there seemed to be a glimmer of hope about his recovery, given that the King Edward Hospital in Durban, where he had been hospitalized since Sunday, had confirmed that he had responded to the first treatments by moving his fingers ”.
Instead, his conditions plummeted.
"He was a talented and gifted young man ," added Sithole. "We pray for him and we ask all boxing fans and not only to pray for Simiso's family too."
