By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Ludumo Lamati is right on the path to recovery after spending more than a month at a Belfast hospital in Northern Ireland following loss to Briton Nick Ball in May.
Lamati was rushed to hospital after he collapsed in his corner following a 12th round stoppage loss to Ball during a World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver featherweight title fight at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
“Just an update on my champ Ludumo Lamati, he has improved tremendously. He has improved neurologically, he has no problems. The scan has shown that there’s nothing to be concerned about. He had a small op on Tuesday. He’s gonna be there for two weeks and then he’s coming home. Either I will fetch his mom, his girlfriend and him. He’s saying that I don’t have to come. But I’ve decided to come and will go fetch him and bring him home. He’s dying to come home,” Lamati’s manager Larry Wainstein said.
According to Wainstein, Lamati’s career as a boxer is sadly over and the 31-year-old former South African and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-featherweight champion will be absorbed into Boxing5 Promotions as one of the promotional outfit’s key members.
The Boxing5 Promotions boss added that they also have plans for Lamati to work as assistant to Phumzile Matyhila, who trained him.
“He’s not going to box anymore. We’ve got plans for him. He already got a gym, but it wasn’t launched because he was at camp. He will be training his patrons. Boxers can work there and earn a living,” Wainstein said.
“We’re going to bring him to Boxing5. We will find a place for him. He will help Phumzi with the guys once he gets his license. He will be a talent scout for us. He’s going to be part of Boxing5 because it was set up for him in the beginning. He can get along and carry on the legacy of Boxing5.”
