South African Boxer Who Punched Thin Air During Fight Dies Due to Brain Injury | Full Details

Professional boxer Simiso Buthelezi passed away following a bout in South Africa, wherein the referee had to stop the fight because he seemed disoriented in the ring.

According to Boxing South Africa (BSA), the 24-year-old athlete lost consciousness towards the end of the match in Durban on June 5. Buthelezi was transported to King Edward VIII Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a brain bleed and placed him in a medically induced coma, per CBS Sports.

The BSA release said the boxer died in the hospital on Tuesday after suffering internal bleeding from a brain injury, as per a CNN report.

"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," the organization statement added.

Simiso Buthelezi lost focus and seemed to be fighting in the direction of an empty area of the ring in a video shared on social media, compelling the referee to stop the match.

Scary Moment Caught on Cam

The video of his final boxing match went viral and drew a lot of attention to its disturbing nature. Buthelezi moved his attention to a corner post as he swung fiercely in the air after knocking his opponent down and nearly through the ropes. Seconds later, the referee called the fight off because it was a very confusing scenario for everyone involved.

The BSA stated: "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. Mr. Buthelezi was given the best care possible but he however succumbed to the injury last night as aforesaid."

Though, as of present reporting, the cause of Buthelezi's fatal injuries is not yet determined.

According to Buthelezi's trainer Bheki Mngomezulu, "There wasn't anything untoward in the fight and training," and the fighter was "leading the fight" when the tragedy happened in the ring.

"I really can't explain what happened, to be honest. It was bewildering, but in his training and the build-up to the fight, there was nothing untoward with regards to his condition. He was in good nick before the fight," he told News24.

Boxing Should Be Banned, Experts Say

BSA noted that it "will conduct an independent medical review of the injury and will then make public the results of that medical review," MMA Junkie reported.

Traumatic brain injuries are widespread among both professional and amateur boxers, as per studies. The World Medical Association asserted that boxing should be banned because it is fundamentally different from other sports due to its serious risks, like brain damage.

"Boxing is a dangerous sport. Unlike other sports, its basic intent is to produce bodily harm by specifically targeting the head. The main medical argument against boxing is the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), also known as chronic traumatic brain injury (CTBI), and dementia pugilistica or "punch-drunk" syndrome," the statement published in 2020 reads.

The association also said that studies indicate other injuries caused by boxing such as loss of sight, loss of hearing, fractures, "devastating short-term injuries and chronic neurological damage on the participants in the long term."

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Boxing, Boxing legend, Sports