Tragic moment boxer is seen throwing punches at thin air before being rushed to hospital and dying
Emily Brown
Featured Image Credit: SABC Sport
Gut-wrenching footage shows the moment boxer Simiso Buthelezi became disorientated and began throwing punches into the air before he later passed away.
Buthelezi was just 24 years old when he entered into what would turn out to be his final fight, taking on Siphesihle Mntungwa for the WBF All Africa lightweight title.
According to the BBC, the boxer's trainer said he was in perfect health ahead of the fight, and Boxing South Africa (BSA) made clear Buthelezi was a 'great boxer who was exemplary both outside and inside the ring'.
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However, things took a terrible turn during the bout on 5 June, 2022 when Buthelezi fell through the ropes in the ring, prompting the referee to halt the fight.
Buthelezi was then given the go-ahead to continue, but when the fight restarted, he began advancing and swinging his fists in the direction of an empty corner, seemingly desperate to hit a target that simply wasn't there.
BSA later confirmed Buthelezi had collapsed towards the end of the fight before being rushed to hospital in Durban, South Africa.
In 2022, a tragic incident occurred during a boxing match involving Simiso Buthelezi from South Africa. During the fight, Buthelezi became disoriented and was seen throwing punches at thin air.
— Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) July 10, 2024
The fight was stopped and Buthelezi was immediately taken to the hospital and put… pic.twitter.com/7U0u0uNxeP
There, medics found the boxer had suffered internal bleeding from a brain injury, despite taking no heavy blows to the head during the bout. He died in hospital two days later.
Trainer Bheki Mngomezulu expressed his confusion over what had happened to Buthelezi, telling News 24 that the boxer had been in control throughout the fight.
“I really can’t explain what happened, to be honest," he said. "It was bewildering, but in his training and in the build-up to the fight, there was nothing untoward with regards to his condition.
“He was in good nick before the fight.”
In a joint statement, BSA and Buthelezi's family confirmed the news of his death.
"Towards the end of his bout, Mr Buthelezi collapsed and was taken to hospital and it was discovered that he suffered a brain injury which resulted in internal bleeding," the statement said.
"At the hospital Mr Buthelezi was given the best care possible but he however succumbed to the injury,"
"[...] The Buthelezi family and BSA acknowledges warm words of condolences of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture."
In 2000 report titled 'Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury Associated With Boxing', author B D Jordan noted that approximately 20 percent of professional boxers develop a chronic traumatic brain injury during their careers.
Further research published in the American Association of Neurological Surgeons journal in 2021 found that up to 40 percent of retired professional boxers were diagnosed with symptoms of chronic brain injury.