South African boxer Siphesihle Mntungwa claims to be on the brink of suicide over the amount of abuse he has faced following his fatal fight with Simiso Buthelezi.
The lightweight contest that took place last Sunday in Durban ended in disturbing circumstances as Buthelezi had to be stopped by the referee for throwing punches at thin air and seemingly fighting an invisible opponent.
In the tenth round, Buthelezi was in control of the fight and forced his opponent through the ropes during a seemingly innocuous exchange.
But when the referee restarted the action it quickly became clear something had gone terribly wrong.
A replay showed Buthelezi took a jab to the chin from his opponent before he fell, with the in-command boxer himself briefly slumping on the ropes.
Buthelezi then appeared to lose his bearings – instead of walking toward his opponent, he directed his attention towards the referee and didn’t appear to realise when the official moved out of the way.
It left him staring at an empty corner of the ring and swinging punches at thin air.
The referee immediately stopped the fight, and the win was awarded to Mntungwa, who celebrated his WBF African title by mimicking Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo‘s ‘Sui’ celebration.
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Buthelezi was taken to hospital and placed into an induced coma, but on Wednesday it was announced that he had died.
Following the death of his opponent, Mntungwa has been bombarded with hateful and abusive messages on social media.
And he has worryingly said he 'can't take it any more'.
“I came under heavy criticism and insults on social media platforms when Simiso was hospitalised; it has taken another level now that he has passed away," he told Sowetan LIVE.
"I just can’t take it anymore. One thing is left for me – I am going to kill myself.”
The 27-year-old fighter from KwaXimba, Cato Ridge, has revealed that even his neighbours have turned against him following the unfortunate death of his opponent.
“Even my neighbours have posted very ugly messages about me on social media," Mntungwa said.
"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.
“It is sad and very painful, but I did not go in that boxing with an intention to kill him.”
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