Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, South Africa, is in a coma after shadowboxing with his back to his opponent during a WBF All Africa title fight.
Buthelezi went on the attack in the final minute of a 10-round bout for the WBA Africa lightweight title against Siphesihle Mntungwa on Sunday.
Buthelezi, untouched for most of the fight, turned his back on Mntungwa and began shadowboxing, at which point referee Elroy Marshall called for the medics.
Buthelezi, a recent botany and zoology graduate, was placed in ICU at 11 p.m. Doctors say a brain bleed caused his coma.
Dr. Buyi Mabaso-Dlamini, who was ringside, told The Sowetan: “He is not in a good health condition at all; he is critical but stable.
Buthelezi’s disorientation isn’t the mystery; it’s how he got the bleed. His trainer said he was fine before the fight and suffered no heavy head blows.
“But this was the last round, with 14 seconds to go, and his opponent fell out of the ring. [Buthelezi] then started swinging wildly, and no-one understood what was going on. Luckily the ringside physicians were quick. It was bizarre.” Mntungwa won when the fight was stopped.
