Young boxer dies, aged fighter makes debut

Sometimes when boxers like Floyd Mayweather laugh their way to a $25 million purse for four rounds of boxing, you forget how tough and dangerous the sport can be. The death of South African boxer Anele Makhwelo serves as a reminder of the brutal reality of boxing.

Makhwelo, 22, died four days after being rushed to the hospital mid-fight. The promising young boxer complained of leg cramps at the end of the ninth round of a national flyweight title bout. By the start of the 10th round, his condition had worsened forcing him to concede the fight. Makhwelo was rushed to the hospital for brain surgery, but died four days after undergoing two surgeries and slipping into a coma.

I am a huge fan of boxing, but it's impossible to feign ignorance to the dangers of the sport. Makhwelo is not the first boxer to die from complications stemming from a ringside beating, and sadly, he probably won't be the last. Which is why I'm concerned about 52-year-old boxer Dewey Bozella, who's set to make his pro ringside debut Saturday. Bozella rose to national prominence after being honored with the 2011 ESPY's Arthur Ashe Courage Award, for his positive outlook despite serving 26 years in prison on a wrongful conviction for murdering a 92-year-old woman.

Dewey Bozella

Bozella's one wish post release was to get an opportunity to score a professional fight, and he's finally getting his wish fighting as an undercard for the Benard Hopkins-Chad Dawson fight in Los Angeles. Bozella looks great physically, especially for his age. But I'm concerned that he may compromise his health at the expense of fulfilling his wish. He is set to fight Larry Hopkins, who, though 0-3 in pro fights, is 22 years younger than Bozella. To add to the uncertainty of Bozella's fight readiness, he failed an initial evaluation by the California State Athletic Commission on Aug. 24 to be licensed to fight in the state. By early September, he started working out with Bernard Hopkins and by Sept. 29, passed a subsequent test to become licensed.


As previously mentioned, Bozella looks to be in incredible shape, but apparently so did Makhwelo before his fight. When it comes to boxing, it's not all about the outward damage the body sustains. There's also internal and cerebral injuries to contend as well. Watching Bozella fight, and possibly win, will undoubtedly cap an already incredible story of survival and courage by him. But what happens if things go awry? I doubt his reason for fighting is financially driven because he could probably make much more money doing the speaking engagement circuit. But how far are you willing to go to fulfill a wish?

If you're interested in tuning in to see how Bozella performs, ESPN3 will broadcast the fight this Saturday.

R.I.P. to Anele Makhwelo.