South African boxer dies after title fight

JOHANNESBURG - South African boxer Anele Makhwelo has died four days after he was rushed to the hospital midway through a title fight with a suspected clot in an artery in his brain.

Boxing South Africa's Dick Nkuna says Makhwelo died late Tuesday at the Universitas Hospital in the central city of Bloemfontein after he had slipped into a coma following two operations.

Nkuna says Makhwelo complained of pain in his left leg at the end of the ninth round of his national flyweight title fight against champion Doctor Ntsele on Friday. A ringside doctor examined him and ordered he be taken to the hospital immediately.

Nkuna said Wednesday "there was nothing in the fight that suggested anything was wrong. Our condolences to the boy's family and to the entire boxing fraternity."