KwaZulu-Natal boxer Simiso Buthelezi remains in a critical condition at a Durban hospital following Sunday’s unfortunate incident during his fight against against Siphesihle Mntungwa in a vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Africa lightweight title contest at the Greyville Convention Centre.
Buthelezi was edging closer to victory when he sent Mntungwa to the ropes with a combination of punches. Shockingly, Buthelezi moved away from his opponent and started throwing punches with no one in sight. It was then that the fight referee stop the proceedings.
“There’s no change in his condition. He’s in a coma, he’s not talking, moving or doing anything right now. The doctors say there could be a blood clot on the brain due to a blow to the head,” Buthelezi’s trainer Bheki Mngomezulu told SAfm’s Sport On programme on Monday evening.
“I didn’t see him taking serious blows during the fight. My thinking is that there was something sinister, like the Zulu medicine, you know muti. That’s because I’ve never seen anything like this in my time in boxing.”
Mngomezulu added that these are tough and sad moments for Buthelezi’s family.
“This is very tough to take, especially for his family. Simiso has just graduated two weeks ago at UniZulu in Zoology and Botany. The family can’t understand why this had to happen because Simiso has a bright future,” Mngomezulu said.
