Simiso Buthelezi

Simiso Buthelezi (1997 - June 8, 2022) was a South African lightweight boxer who died following a 10th round loss in an WBF Africa lightweight title contest. The referee stopped the match when Buthelezi began shadow boxing in the corner, rather than against his opponent. Medics later discerned that Buthelezi had a bleed on the brain and placed him in an induced coma, however, he did not regain consciousness.
Buthelezi debuted as a professional boxer on 21 December, 2019, with a victory over Simanga Ngcobo by four rounds judges' decision in Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal's city hall. He proceeded to win two of his next three contests by knockout, to build an undefeated record of 4 wins, 0 losses with 2 wins by knockout. Then, on June 5, 2022, he fought Siphesihle Mntungwa, a fellow South African, for the WBF's vacant African lightweight title. The contest was televised live in South Africa. It took place at the Greyville Convention Centre in Durban.
In round ten (the bout's last round) Buthelezi had knocked Mntungwa through the ropes; this was not considered a knockdown by the fight's referee, who sent Buthelezi to a corner and helped Mntungwa get up. Immediately, Buthelezi turned to one of the ring's corners and started to throw punches to the air, as if his opponent were in front of him (Mntungwa and the referee were both behind Buthelezi at that moment) Buthelezi then collapsed, the referee stopping the contest and Mntungwa winning the bout, and the WBF's Africa lightweight title, by a tenth-round technical knockout. Videos showing the last moments of the contest went viral on the internet.
Buthelezi was taken to a hospital, where it was discovered that he had sustained a brain injury which had led to internal bleeding. He was in a coma for three days, until his death, on June 8 of that year (2022). Boxing South Africa, the country's main professional boxing governing body, said that an investigation into his death would be launched immediately.
Buthelezi had a record of four wins and one loss as a professional in five contests, with two wins and his one loss being by way of knockout.

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