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Aussie boxer Dwight Ritchie dies at 27 after freak training accident while sparring Michael Zerafa

The boxing community has been rocked after local fighter Dwight Ritchie died in a freak training accident while sparring on Saturday.

Staff Writers
3 min read
November 10, 2019 - 8:09AM
Dwight Ritchie throws a jab at Tim Tszyu during their WBO Global and IBF Australasian super welterweight title fight.
Dwight Ritchie throws a jab at Tim Tszyu during their WBO Global and IBF Australasian super welterweight title fight.

The Australian boxing scene is in shock after local fighter Dwight Ritchie died in a freak training accident while sparring Michael Zerefa.

The 27-year-old Ritchie collapsed after a session with Zerafa, who is preparing for his re-match with Jeff Horn after winning the Battle of Bendigo, in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Daily Telegraph broke the news and said Ritchie took a body shot, walked back to his corner and collapsed. He could not be revived.

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Ritchie was previously an Australian middleweight champion and hit the headlines when he fought Tim Tszyu in August, losing a decision that was only his second loss in a 21-fight career.

In his decade long career he recorded 19 wins, two via KO, and only two losses. He leaves behind three daughters.

Dwight Ritchie fight with Tim Tszyu before their fight in August.
Dwight Ritchie fight with Tim Tszyu before their fight in August.

Ritchie’s promoter Jake Ellis confirmed the tragic news on Facebook, writing: “It is with great sadness and shock to announce that the fighting cowboy Dwight Ritchie sadly passed away today doing what he loved.

“As Dwight’s promoter and friend it’s unbearable to accept the tragic news that’s just surfaced.

“Dwight will always be remembered by the boxing fraternity as one of the brightest talents in Australia who’s fighting style embodied exactly how he lived.

“RIP Cowboy you’ll be forever missed.”

Zerafa took to his Instagram account to remember Ritchie, posting a picture of the Aussie boxer with the caption: “One of the hardest days I’ve had to face. Rest easy brother.”

Tszyu posted a touching tribute to Ritchie who he said was “gone too soon” along with posting an image of the two on his Instagram account.

“Today we lost a champion both in and out of the ring,” he wrote.

“As a group we are all shattered, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Ritchie family as we all take a moment to remember a great warrior and champion. Gone too soon.”

Fellow boxers were left in disbelief after hearing the tragic news of Ritchie’s passing and offered up their heartfelt condolences.

Ahead of his bout with Tszyu, Ritchie wrote a column for AthletesVoice where he said boxing saved him from a life of crime.

“If I wasn’t a boxer I’d be in jail, 100 per cent. The things I was getting up to as a kid …” Ritchie wrote.

“We just had no direction and we were following that same cycle that was around us then, the same traps everyone else was getting caught in.

“I was lucky I found boxing, because without it there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d be locked up right now instead of in the gym preparing for a fight against Tim Tszyu, still working on my dream of a world title shot.

“Boxing gives me structure, and routine. A bloke like me really needs structure in my life and something to work towards.”

Boxing commentator Ben Damon also took to Twitter to offer his condolences.

He spoke to Fox Sports News about how Zerafa was dealing with the tragedy.

“Michael Zerafa is as or more devastated than anyone this evening because these two men were very close friends, they were preparing each other as all sportspeople do in training that’s all it was,” he said. “For him to end a sparring session with a body shot and his partner to head back to his corner and then to collapse, it was just devastating for Michael and everyone else. To go on and see how this impacts the Australian boxing community, Michael and all the rest of the fighters, we’ll just have to wait and see.

“It’s an utterly tragic day and our condolences go to the Ritchie family, to the three young children he leaves behind and everyone else who’s devastated by this tragedy.”

Several promoters have already spoken to Damon and said the boxing community will raise funds for the family Ritchie leaves behind.

Team Ellis Boxing has already started a Go Fund Me campaign which has raised $4,500 for Ritchie’s children.

Originally published as Aussie boxer Dwight Ritchie dies at 27 after freak training accident while sparring Michael Zerafa

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/boxing-mma/aussie-boxer-dwight-ritchie-dies-at-27-after-freak-training-accident-while-sparring-michael-zerafa/news-story/d680af291fed1841cd062287852ad9ed