Bleeding from the brain has brought to an end prospect Tumelo Pedi's career after being stopped in the 10th round for the Gauteng featherweight title by Rofhiwa Maemu.
Their fight, which was a topsy-turvy affair, took place at the Turffontein Racecourse on May 27. Pedi was rushed to Milpark Hospital where he underwent two cat scans. The 23-year-old was discharged on Tuesday after spending six days at the neurological ward.
A qualified gym instructor at the University of Johannesburg, Pedi said: "The first scan detected blood clot. I went for the second one and bleeding had reduced slightly.
"I am hoping to go for another one in a month's time. It is a worrying thing that cannot be taken lightly because doctors warned me that head injuries do not go away. I am very lucky that they did not operate, but I took the hard decision to quit active boxing because of the fear of exacerbating the injuries if I continue."
Pedi suffered his first knockout in four defeats from 10 fights. "You know, some people who suffered head injuries did not make it after being operated," said Pedi yesterday.
"For me to be able to communicate with you the way I am right now, understand you clearly and respond sensibly, means a lot. I am grateful to God."
Boxing South Africa Gauteng manager Archie Nyingwa, who was fight supervisor in the bout between Pedi and Maemu, said: "I am happy that Tumelo is out of hospital ... [and] I fully support him when he says he is done with competitive boxing. I will do my best to assist him in becoming time-keeper while he is familiarising himself with the rules and regulations because he said he would like to become a referee or a judge."
Trainer Alan Toweel Jnr and Pedi's coach from the amateur ranks said: "I am glad that Tumelo has taken that decision himself. I was going to advise him to quit ..."
Pedi's boxing days over
Bleeding from the brain has brought to an end prospect Tumelo Pedi's career after being stopped in the 10th round for the Gauteng featherweight title by Rofhiwa Maemu.
Their fight, which was a topsy-turvy affair, took place at the Turffontein Racecourse on May 27. Pedi was rushed to Milpark Hospital where he underwent two cat scans. The 23-year-old was discharged on Tuesday after spending six days at the neurological ward.
A qualified gym instructor at the University of Johannesburg, Pedi said: "The first scan detected blood clot. I went for the second one and bleeding had reduced slightly.
"I am hoping to go for another one in a month's time. It is a worrying thing that cannot be taken lightly because doctors warned me that head injuries do not go away. I am very lucky that they did not operate, but I took the hard decision to quit active boxing because of the fear of exacerbating the injuries if I continue."
Pedi suffered his first knockout in four defeats from 10 fights. "You know, some people who suffered head injuries did not make it after being operated," said Pedi yesterday.
"For me to be able to communicate with you the way I am right now, understand you clearly and respond sensibly, means a lot. I am grateful to God."
Boxing South Africa Gauteng manager Archie Nyingwa, who was fight supervisor in the bout between Pedi and Maemu, said: "I am happy that Tumelo is out of hospital ... [and] I fully support him when he says he is done with competitive boxing. I will do my best to assist him in becoming time-keeper while he is familiarising himself with the rules and regulations because he said he would like to become a referee or a judge."
Trainer Alan Toweel Jnr and Pedi's coach from the amateur ranks said: "I am glad that Tumelo has taken that decision himself. I was going to advise him to quit ..."
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