Lamati fighting for his life in Belfast

South African boxer, Ludumo Lamati, is fighting for his life in a Belfast hospital in Northern Ireland following a 12th round technical knockout defeat to the Englishman, Nick Ball, at the SSE Arena on Saturday night.

The featherweight boxer is currently in an induced coma after he was carried out of the ring on a stretcher after receiving attention from medical personnel.

Lamati was halted by Ball in the final round when he returned to his corner and collapsed in the ring needing oxygen.

The Mdantsane native came into the fight with an unbeaten record, having won the African Boxing Union, South African, and IBO junior featherweight titles.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Lamati’s team was told to return home to South Africa as they could do nothing for him with medics promising to get in touch with them should anything change.

Boxing South Africa Chief Executive, Eric Sithole, says they are attempting to speak to the South African Ambassador in Ireland.

“For now, we’re still trying to get hold of the ambassador in Ireland so that he can just take care of the situation but he’s currently in a stable environment and he’s also stable,” explained Sithole.

It is believed that the 31-year-old suffered too many blows to the head during the fight with Ball.

The MEC for the Department of Sports in the Eastern Cape, Nonceba Kontsiwe, has described this as a very unfortunate incident and has wished the featherweight well.

“On behalf of the government of the Eastern Cape, I would wish our boxer Ludumo Lamati a speedy recovery. He was on a quest to lift the name, not only of the province or of the country but of the continent on a higher pedestal like other boxing heroes of yester years. Our thoughts and prayers are with and his family during this difficult time.”