(OCT 29) PHINDILE Mwelase,
the woman boxer who fell into a coma after being knocked out
earlier this month, has died.
She is the first female fighter in South Africa to have died as
a result of punishment in the ring. Mwelase was taken off life
support and moved out of intensive care last week, but it is
understood that she never regained consciousness. "We thought
she was getting better," said Andre Thysse, a co-owner of Real
Steel Promotions, who staged Mwelase's bout in Pretoria on
October 10.
Photo credit: Allsport.com
Mwelase, who turned 31 in
hospital last week Monday, died on Saturday. Mwelase was knocked
out in the sixth round by Liz Butler in a professional women's
bout.
Mwelase, who had failed to win any of her four previous bouts,
had been competitive until she was caught by a single right
hand, which caused her to slump to her knees. She then toppled
forward, unconscious.
Mwelase, who had failed to win any of her four previous bouts,
had been competitive until she was caught by a single right
hand, which caused her to slump to her knees. She then toppled
forward, unconscious.
Mwelase was initially taken to Kalafong Hospital, but was
transferred to Steve Biko Hospital where she underwent surgery
to stem bleeding on the brain nearly 48 hours after first
collapsing.
Butler is taking the death badly and has vowed not to box again.
"She's devastated. She says she's not going to box again," said
Thysse.
Pumeza Zinakile, the referee in charge of that ill-fated fight,
said she had regularly visited the stricken boxer in hospital.
"After seeing Phindile go through that suffering when she lay
with her body lifelessly on her bed with the bandages [the hand
wraps] that I had signed before she fought Liz Butler, makes me
very sad."
Boxing SA Gauteng manager Archie Nyingwa described Mwelase as a
soldier who died with her gun in her hands.
BSA chairperson Ntambi Ravele said: "We always hoped for the
best because we have seen situations like that of Michael
Schumacher [retired seven-time F1 champion] who woke up from a
coma nearly a year after suffering life-threatening injuries
from skiing.
"I am devastated, to say the least. My heart goes out to her
mother. That family's pains is also ours as BSA."Mwelase is from
Ladysmith but was trained in Johannesburg by Stanley Ndlovu.
Copyrighted Story:
Full Story on sowetanlive.co.za
