Boxing has endured a week that is bound to reignite calls for anything ranging from the mandatory wearing of head guards to the total banning of the sport.
On Tuesday (September 15), South African Mzwanele Kompolo, described as an ‘up-and-coming’ boxer, tragically died days after suffering a first round technical knockout in a bout in the Eastern Cape.
South Africa’s sports ministry said on Wednesday that Kompolo died in hospital in the town of Frere in the Eastern Cape Province after collapsing in the ring in his fight against Siphenathi Qampi.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said of the tragedy: “It is indeed sad to hear of this news involving the passing of this young upcoming athlete.”
News of events in South Africa came just days after Australian boxer Davey Browne Jr’s life support was terminated after he showed no signs of recovery following a knocked out by Filipino opponent Carlo Magali 30 seconds before the end of their match-up for the IBF Super Featherweight title.
The Australlian father of two had been on life support for four days before he succumbed to his injuries last Friday.
Following the deaths, international condemnation of boxing and combat sports like Mixed Martial Arts has been invigorated. Dr. Stephen Parnis, Vice-President of the AMA told Australian broadcaster ABC: “One punch can kill, whether you are outside a pub on a Friday night or in a boxing ring, and this is the thing that causes young lives to be ended so traumatically.
“The way that boxing is designed there will be these times inevitably where someone will get bleeding or irreversible damage to the brain and they will either lose their life or end up with brain damage.”
Neither South Africa nor Australia need to go back very far to find reason to heed calls for the sport to be looked at. South Africa’s sports ministry is still investigating the death of female boxer Phindile Mwelase late last year. Mwelase died after being in a coma for two weeks following a fight in the capital, Pretoria.
Meanwhile, Queensland boxer Braydon Smith lost his life six months ago, following a featherweight bout in his hometown of Toowoomba.
Australia’s Medical Association is advocating a ban on amateur combat sports at high levels, such as Olympics and Commonwealth Games. It also wants combat sports and martial arts to be completely banned for those under 18 years of age.
