There are moments in sports that leave us shocked and even mortified at times. A South African boxing match between Simiso Buthelezi and Siphesihle Mntungwa was a match that mixed the two. A viral video shows the closing moments of the match and while watching it, you just have a feeling of dread seeing one of the competitors.
South African Boxer in Induced Coma After Boxing Invisible Opponents in WBF African Lightweight Title Bout
Simiso was winning the June 5, 2022 match which had reached the tenth round. Reports state that Simiso went the majority of the match unharmed by Mntungwa and has gone unbeaten. Early into the round, Mntungwa takes a spill through the ropes. The referee makes some distance between the two and once Mtungwa is ready to fight again, Simiso approaches the referee and looks ready to fight them.
Official Elroy Marshal manages to get out of the way. Simiso Buthelezi stalks to the corner and begins throwing punches—at the air. He was fighting an opponent that the ref, Mtungwa, and the spectators. Seeing this, the referee called for the bell and the end of the fight, handing it to Mtungwa.
After explaining Simiso’s domination of the match, ring announcer Sipho Mashego told ESPN:
“But this was the last round, with 14 seconds to go, and his opponent fell out of the ring. [Buthelezi] then started swinging wildly, and no-one understood what was going on. Luckily the ringside physicians were quick. It was bizarre.”
Simiso was taken to the King Henry VIII Hospital ICU and placed in an induced coma where medical personnel could observe him. It has been found that a brain bleed was the culprit. In speaking with Sowetan, Dr. Buyi Mabaso-Dlamini said of Simiso’s condition:
“He is not in a good health condition at all; he is critical but stable. We discovered that he bled on the brain and sadly his condition does not allow the doctors that are treating to operate at the moment due to the condition.”
Mabaso-Dlamini said that the condition could’ve been years coming due to the punishment that Simiso took over the years. Simiso—who holds a degree in botany and zoology—hasn’t boxed long. He debuted in September 2019 and went undefeated for four matches, having one in 2020 and two in 2021.
Simiso’s first loss came as a result of the TKO on June 5.
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