Top boxer dies in King stabbing incident
THREE years after his boxer died from a stabbing incident, trainer Bobbin Sityana has lost another boxer to a similar tragedy.
Sinethemba Magibisela was stabbed to death in Ilitha, near King William’s Town on Sunday night.
Police spokesperson Captain Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed that police opened a murder docket after Magibisela was found lying in the street in a pool of blood at 10pm.
A 34-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with his death.
“He will appear in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday [tod Mawisa said.
Magibisela, 28, was reportedly celebrating his stunning win over Mbulelo Nxazonke with friends when the tragedy happened.
The left-hander beat Nxazonke in a boxing tournament organised by Isizwe Boxing Promotions in Willowvale on Saturday.
The win was his 15th in 22 bouts with two draws.
The tournament was the first to be held at the venue after a boxer died from head injuries suffered in the ring there two years ago.
Mzwanele Kopolo was rushed to Frere hospital after collapsing in the ring following his knockout defeat by Siphenathi Qampi in 2015. He died in hospital. Magibisela’s death comes at a time when another boxer, Mzuvukile Daniels of Port Elizabeth, is fighting for his life in the Livingstone Hospital, also after being stabbed on Sunday evening.
Daniels’ stabbing came when he was busy preparing for a fight against Tyson Esau in Cape Town on Friday.
Sityana was still in shock yesterday when Dispatch spoke to him on his way to visiting Magibisela’s family.
“I cannot believe it,” he said. “I last spoke to him after the fight and now I get this devastating news.”
This is the second time Sityana has lost a boxer to a stabbing after his other charge, Mbulelo Mpendu, was stabbed to death in a shebeen at NU14 Mdantsane.
“On Saturday we were celebrating Magibisela’s win and today are mourning his death,” Sityana said.
Among the boxers he beat was Filipino Jetly Perusima in a miniflyweight duel in 2015.
However, the fight was later shrouded in controversy when not all the boxers who fought in the tournament were paid their purses.
This forced the management of the Filipino boxers – including Rey Loreto, who knocked out Nkosinathi Joyi – to seek the intervention of President Jacob Zuma, who requested thensports minister Fikile Mbalula to look into the matter.
BSA has since suspended the promoter of the tournament.
Magibisela soldiered on with his career despite almost retiring, facing Joyi down the line and losing to him through a seven-round stoppage.
Boxing SA Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs said they were shocked by the news of Magibisela’s death.
“We as BSA would like to send our condolences to Magibisela’s family,” he said.