Simiso Buthelezi Dies From Brain Bleed In Durban Hospital After Boxer Ends Bout Punching At Air

Simiso ButheleziSouth African professional boxer, Simiso Buthelezi has died in hospital in his native South Africa, after he suffered a brain bleed during a championship bout against Siphesihle Mntungwa in Durban over the course of last week. Simiso Buthelezi, 24, who competed against Mntungwa for the WBF African lightweight championship, began punching at air in an […]

Simiso Buthelezi

South African professional boxer, Simiso Buthelezi has died in hospital in his native South Africa, after he suffered a brain bleed during a championship bout against Siphesihle Mntungwa in Durban over the course of last week.

Simiso Buthelezi, 24, who competed against Mntungwa for the WBF African lightweight championship, began punching at air in an opposite corner in disturbing footage, after a halt in the action. 

Backing Mntungwa to the ropes, and eventually, through the middle rope, Simiso Buthelezi was countered with a shot as he advanced toward his opponent in the final round of their 10 frame fight.

With the referee halting the action in order to allow Mntungwa back into the ring, Simiso Buthelezi began to turn away from Mntungwa and face a corner of the ring, beginning to throw a series of strikes at the air before the referee called the fight off. 

Simiso Buthelezi was placed in an induced coma at a Durban hospital following the bout

As per an initial report from ESPN, Buthelezi, who had lost the bout due to a 10th round TKO as a result, was placed in an induced coma. 

Boxing South Africa would then release an official statement in tandem with Buthelezi’s family, confirming that he had died in hospital on Tuesday evening after suffering a brain bleed.

“It is with great sadness for Boxing South Africa and the Buthelezi family to announce the passing away for Mr. Simiso Buthelezi who passed away last night the 7th June 2022 at hospital in Durdan.”

“On the 5th June 2022 Mr. Buthelezi participated in a Boxing Tournament hosted by Starline Boxing Promotions in Greyville, Durban.”

“Towards the end of the bout, Mr. Buthelezi collapsed and was taken to a hospital and it was discovered at the hospital that he suffered a brain injury which resulted in internal bleeding. At the hospital, Mr. Buthelezi was given the best care possible but he, however, succumbed to the injury last night as aforesaid.”

“Boxing South Africa will conduct an independent medical review of the injury and will then make public the results of that medical review.”

“The Buthelezi family and Boxing South Africa acknowledge warm words of condolences of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.”

“The Buthelezi family and Boxing South Africa will in due course make announcement on funeral arrangements. Boxing South Africa and the Buthelezi family wishes to request members of the public and the media to give them space while mourning the passing away of this great boxer who was exemplary both outside and inside the ring.” 

Buthelezi’s trainer, Bheki Mngomezulu spoke with News24 following the 24-year-old’s passing, explained how nothing “untoward” had occurred during training, and how he could not explain the circumstances of Buthelezi’s tragic passing.
“There wasn’t anything untoward in the fight and in training,” Mngomezulu said. “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.”

Boxer Buthelezi Dies After Invisible Punching Incident

South African boxer Simiso Buthelezi has died following a horrifying finish to his recent fight. Buthelezi was well on his way to defeating Siphesihle Mntungwa in their matchup this past weekend for the WBF African lightweight title. But with just seconds left in the fight, everything changed when Buthelezi showed an extremely concerning display of…

Continue Reading Boxer Buthelezi Dies After Invisible Punching Incident at MMA News.

South African boxer Simiso Buthelezi has died following a horrifying finish to his recent fight.

Buthelezi was well on his way to defeating Siphesihle Mntungwa in their matchup this past weekend for the WBF African lightweight title. But with just seconds left in the fight, everything changed when Buthelezi showed an extremely concerning display of disorientation in the ring.

Watch below as Buthelezi appears to punch an invisible opponent before the referee steps in and stopped the fight.

It had originally been speculated that Buthelezi suffered from heat exhaustion, but it’s currently winter in South Africa and that theory was quickly dismissed.

Buthelezi was rushed to a local hospital, King Edward in Durban, where he was later pronounced dead. Boxing South Africa released the following statement Wednesday morning.

“On June 5 2022, 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 and it was discovered at the hospital that he suffered a brain injury which resulted in internal bleeding.

“At the hospital Mr. Buthelezi was given the best care possible but he however succumbed to the injury last night as aforesaid. Boxing South Africa will conduct an independent medical review of the injury and will then make public the results of that medical review.

“The Buthelezi family and Boxing South Africa acknowledges warm words of condolences of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture. The Buthelezi family and Boxing South Africa will in due course make announcement on funeral arrangements.

“Boxing South Africa and the Buthelezi family wishes to request members of the public and the media to give them space while mourning the passing away of this great boxer who was exemplary both outside and inside the ring.”

Buthelezi had a 4-1 professional record in boxing and made his debut back in Dec. 2019 against Simanga Ngcobo.

Continue Reading Boxer Buthelezi Dies After Invisible Punching Incident at MMA News.

Boxer Taken To Hospital After Punching Air During Fight (Video)

Lightweight boxer Simiso Buthelezi was transferred to a local hospital after a horrific display of mental clarity during his recent championship outing. The South African star entered the matchup undefeated with a record of 4-0. He challenged Siphesihle Mntungwa for the WBF African lightweight title. It’s said Buthelezi was comfortably beating Mntungwa into the tenth…

Continue Reading Boxer Taken To Hospital After Punching Air During Fight (Video) at MMA News.

Lightweight boxer Simiso Buthelezi was transferred to a local hospital after a horrific display of mental clarity during his recent championship outing.

The South African star entered the matchup undefeated with a record of 4-0. He challenged Siphesihle Mntungwa for the WBF African lightweight title.

It’s said Buthelezi was comfortably beating Mntungwa into the tenth round.

During the tenth round, Buthelezi stunned Mntungwa, who fell into the ropes. Mntungwa was able to get back to his feet and was ready to resume the fight.

When the referee motioned to resume action, Buthelezi began to press forward and unload.

However, he went in the complete opposite direction of his opponent, instead swinging at the empty ring corner near nobody except the referee. Check out the footage below.

Mntungwa never advanced on the clearly unstable Buthelezi, and the referee quickly stepped in to wave off the fight, knowing something was wrong.

Boxing reporter Tim Boxeo noted that Buthelezi was “almost certainly” on his way to victory before the stoppage.

It was later revealed that he is in “stable condition” after receiving medical treatment in Durban.

Some have speculated that the incident might have been brought on via heat exhaustion, however, this was dispelled as it’s currently winter in South Africa.

We’ve seen some wild things in the boxing world thus far this year, but this certainly is at the top of the charts.

What do you make of the boxer and his horrific incident inside the ring? Let us know in the comments below!

Continue Reading Boxer Taken To Hospital After Punching Air During Fight (Video) at MMA News.