Ladysmith boxer dies after fight

Phindile Mwelase is the first female fighter in South Africa to have died as a result of the beating she took in the ring.

Mwelase was taken off life support and moved out of intensive care last week, and everyone hoped she would regain consciousness.

The young pugilist was born near Ladysmith in Peacetown  and turned 31 in hospital last week Monday. She died on Saturday.

Mwelase was knocked out in the sixth round by Liz Butler in a professional women’s bout on October 10.

As a professional welterweight, who had failed to win any of her four previous bouts, Mwelase had been actively fighting and showed no signs of being in trouble until she was hit by a single right thrown by Butler. The blow caused her to slump to her knees. She then toppled forward, unconscious.

She was rushed 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.

According to a family source, her father was unaware that his daughter was a boxer. She had apparently gone to Johannesburg to look for work. When she had asked her father if she could box, he evidently said “no”. Her death as a result of the sport came as a complete shock to the family.

Her funeral will be held this weekend in Peacetown. We will update the story with details of the funeral when we have them.