Teenage boxer dies after sparring session

A teenage boxer died shortly after a sparring session gone wrong last month in Lagos, Nigeria. Miracle Amaeze, who held un undefeated 2-0 pro…

By: Karim Zidan | 10 months ago
Teenage boxer dies after sparring session
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

A teenage boxer died shortly after a sparring session gone wrong last month in Lagos, Nigeria.

Miracle Amaeze, who held un undefeated 2-0 pro record at age 18 with two first-round knockouts, suffered two knockdowns during the sparring session and could later be seen on video laying on the ground and surrounded by two men who were attempting to revive him. He passed away shortly thereafter.

The news was later confirmed by boxing company Monarch Promotions, on social media.

“With heavy and sorrowful hearts, we are very sad to announce the untimely passing of our young champ Miracle Amaeze,” Monarch Promotions said. “Although you have gone too soon, your legacy remains in our hearts. May God accept you and keep you till we all meet again. Forever in our hearts, young champ.”

Amaeze’s death marks the latest combat sports-related death. Last month, an Indian MMA fighter died from injuries sustained during a kickboxing event in Bangalore, India. The African boxing championship event in June also saw the tragic death of 24-tear-old Simiso Buthelezi, who started punching thin air instead of his opponent during their bout on June 4. He was later hospitalized, placed in an induced coma, and passed away three days later.

Buthelezi’s opponent, Siphesihle Mntungwa, faced backlash online after the boxer’s death, which sent him into a state of despair and depression.

“I just can’t take it anymore,” Mntungwa told Sowetan Live. “One thing is left for me – I am going to kill myself.”

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About the author
Karim Zidan
Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan is a investigative reporter and feature writer focusing on the intersection of sports and politics. He has written for BloodyElbow since 2014 and has served as an associate editor since 2016. He also writes for The New York Times and The Guardian. Karim has been invited to speak about his work at numerous universities, including Princeton, and was a panelist at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival and the Oslo Freedom Forum. He also participated in the United Nations counter-terrorism conference in 2021. His reporting on Ramzan Kadyrov’s involvement in MMA, much of which was done for Bloody Elbow, has led to numerous award nominations, and was the basis of an award-winning HBO Real Sports documentary.

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