By Enrique Corbella
Boxer Simiso Buthelezi lost his life at the age of 24 following a WBF African lightweight title fight against Siphesihle Mntungwa two days earlier. In a video clip, Buthelezi can be seen throwing punches into empty space during the fight, looking disoriented after having moved his focus away from Mntungwa.
In an interview with Sowetan Live, Mntungwa revealed that he has received insults on social media.
The boxer stressed that he was not at fault for his opponent’s death and spoke about having suicidal thoughts. “I came into heavy criticism and received insults on social media platforms when Simiso was hospitalised,” Mntungwa said. “It has taken another level now that he has passed away.
“I just can’t take it anymore. One thing is left for me. I am going to kill myself. “Even my neighbours have posted very ugly messages about me on social media. I am no longer safe. “I did not kill Simiso. We may have been involved in a boxing fight but it was not a matter of life and death. “All I wanted was to win the title, which maybe was going to help change my life and that of my family. “I am the only one working at home, where I stay with my young brother, my aunt and her children. My mother died when I was four; my father is still alive but we don’t stay with him. “So, winning that title was going to help me financially. But people have branded me a killer. It could have been me.” Coach seeks professional help
Following these statements by Mntungwa, his coach, Mmeli Mkhize, is already seeking professional assistance to help him overcome the pressure he is under and shake away his suicidal thoughts.
Mkhize revealed that the pressure put on his boxer is so huge that he was unable to attend Buthelezi’s funeral or offer condolences to his family. – marca.com
BOXING’S INVISIBLE OPPONENT: THE STORY OF SIMISO BUTHELEZI
By Craig Scott
Renowned South African boxing figure, Colin Nathan, was working as a commentator, calling the action from just a couple of feet away.
“It was probably the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I never saw him taking any major head trauma. He got caught here and there, but there were never signs of being buzzed, legs buckling, him not having his faculties or anything like that. Major fatigue had set in – that’s only normal when you’re setting a hard pace in a fight. In terms of physical issues and co-ordination, shape of his punches, then no. The only thing I could see was fatigue setting in, but it was for Mntungwa, as well.
“We could all have our theories; did he cut weight badly? Did he get concussed in sparring? Was he knocked out in sparring? Now, we’re never gonna know the true situation because I don’t think anyone in that position – given the vulnerability of what’s just happened – is gonna be forthcoming and honest. What we do know, for 100 percent, is that the motive is boxing. Irrespective, the motive remains the same: it’s boxing.”
“Early on Buthelezi was leading and then Mntungwa came back nicely, and in the last two, three rounds, Buthelezi steamed ahead. He was winning the fight; there was no sign of any neurological issues, physiological issues, as well. He was looking good, coming on strong, and winning the fight. He was winning the last round, there were no signs up until the last 40 seconds of the fight.
He inexplicably started chasing the referee thinking he was the opponent. The referee pointed to Mntungwa, kind of skipped out of the way, and Buthelezi carried on walking towards the corner, throwing punches [at nobody in thin air. “That’s the hardest part to swallow of this whole event.
“We have seen fighters take a tremendous hiding and we question the referee, we question the corner, we question the medical doctor at ringside. If he’d taken a sustained beating throughout the fight, you’re thinking, ‘Okay, he’s gonna collapse, Jesus.’ It just happened so sudden. There I am, doing commentary, and I’m trying to think of what to say because I’m stunned. Scared when he started collapsing, to the point of teary where I’m thinking, ‘Wow – what do I say here? How do I remain calm, collected, but sensitive to the situation?’ It was one of the most bizarre and most tragic things I’ve ever seen in my career and life.” – boxing-social.com
