Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Tragedy has struck South African boxing again.

Tally Disoloane, who fell into a coma after being stopped by Thompson Mokwana in the fifth round of a six-round bout on October 1, has died.

The fight was in Seshego, Limpopo.

Abram Khambule, of Boxing SA, who was at the ringside, said the "Green Mamba" from Mamelodi went through the ropes after missing a blow in the third round.

He said Disoloane, 29, slipped over a table before hitting the concrete floor with his head.

"He got up and continued fighting until he was floored with a body punch in the fifth round.

"The ring doctor tried to revive him but he did not respond and he was rushed to hospital," Khambule said.

He said Disoloane's trainer, Onemus Laka, told him on Saturday morning that Disoloane had died .

Mokwana's trainer, Gus Appgrym, said referee Len Hunt refused to heed his plea to stop the fight in the fourth round.

"I jumped into the ring but the referee told me in no uncertain terms to step down," he said.

Mokwana said Disoloane was not okay after his fall.

"He would duck even when I had not thrown a punch.

"I decided not to hit him on his head but to work on his body and that is how I stopped him," said the distraught 19-year-old fighter.

"If the referee had listened to my trainer and stopped the fight Tally would be alive," he said.

"I want to go to his funeral but I am scared because I do not know how his family will react."