JOHANNESBURG — South African flyweight Anele Makhwelo has died after a title fight against South African champion Doctor Ntsele.
Makhwelo, a former winner in the Baby Champs series, was taken to hospital after complaining of a pain in one of his legs during the bout at the Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre near Bloemfontein last Friday night.
He died late on Tuesday at the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein. He had been in a coma after two operations and is believed to have died as a result of a clot in an artery in the brain.
Dick Nkuna of Boxing SA said on Wednesday: “There was nothing in the fight that suggested anything was wrong. Our condolences to the boy’s family and to the entire boxing fraternity.”
Andile Klaas, also of Boxing SA, said the organisation had learnt with sadness of Makhwelo’s death.
The fight was stopped after the ninth round when a ringside doctor examined the challenger and ordered him to be rushed to hospital.
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Brain surgery was performed and Makhwelo remained in a coma during the weekend.
He was the first SA boxer to die after a fight since Samora Msophi’s death in 2008. Msophi passed away after losing a national title fight against Mfundo Gwayana in East London.