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31-year-old Phindile Mwelase was
a true warrior, a woman of great
courage and huge dignity, a
woman who gave her all in
everything she ever did.
Sadly and tragically, Phindile
Mwelase passed away after being
knocked out by Liz Butler in the
sixth round in a boxing event
held in Pretoria, South Africa
on October 10. In what had been
a competitive and entertaining
bout, Mwelase was caught with a
right hand and slumped to the
canvas unconscious.
She was immediately taken to the
Kalafong Hospital, and was then
transferred to the Steve Biko
Academic Hospital where she
underwent surgery to stem
bleeding on the brain nearly 48
hours after first collapsing.
While she remained in a coma,
the South African boxing
fraternity as well as the rest
of the world prayed for her
recovery.
Unfortunately, Mwelase did not
recover and passed away a few
days ago. The World Boxing
Federation extends its
condolences to her family and
friends. May this courageous
woman rest in peace.
Her opponent Liz Butler is
devastated and has vowed never
to box again, such is the
anguish and pain that she is
going through having been in
this fight. It is hard to be
part of a fight where such a
tragedy occurred, but I am sure
that Phindile would have wanted
Liz to continue and would never
have issued any blame whatsoever
in Liz' direction.
Of course after such a tragedy,
the old story of banning boxing
has raised its ugly head once
again. Boxing is a tough,
dangerous sport but perhaps so
too is motor racing, cage
fighting, rugby and even
football. While a combative
sport, boxing is regulated
insofar as safety and medical
regulations is concerned.
Could these safety precautions
and regulations be improved? It
is an ongoing discussion, and
the WBF will certainly discuss
and investigate such matters
with our WBF medical chief, the
world renowned Dr. Adam Balogh.
Were boxing to be banned, it
would without a shadow of doubt
go underground, where few if any
medical and safety precautions
exist. Were boxing to be banned,
thousands of poor youngsters who
view boxing as a potential
avenue away from poverty, crime
and gangsterism, would clearly
have no viable alternative but
to a life of crime.
Boxing is a great sport,
arguably the greatest sport
ever. The truth is that it is a
tough sport, but a sport which
provides opportunities which
otherwise many people would not
be afforded. We all have
choices, and those fighters who
choose boxing know that it is
not easy, and that it is a
dangerous sport – but a sport
which opens doors to a life
better to what they have at
present.
The debate of banning boxing
will continue long after we are
all gone, but now it is time to
mourn a young lady taken in the
prime of her life. A young
fighter who had the courage to
get into the ring and to fight
in the sport she loved so much.
As a fellow South African, I
personally extend my condolences
to the family and friends of
Phindile Mwelase – a woman of
courage, bravery, dignity and
honor. She will be missed. RIP
Phindile Mwelase.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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