A South African female professional boxer has died following a knockout punch two weeks ago that put her in a coma, the sports and re-creation department said yesterday.

Light middleweight Phindile Mwelase, 31, fell into a coma on October 10 after a fight against Liz Butler, who defeated her by a knockout.

She died on Saturday at a Pretoria hospital.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma expressed his “heartfelt condolences on the untimely death” of Mwelase.

His office said in a statement: “She joined a sport that is predominantly male, and was proving that women can also succeed in boxing.

“Her untimely passing has robbed us of a role model.”

Mwelase is the third athlete to die in sports-mad South Africa in less than a week. National soccer goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead by intruders at his girlfriend’s home on Sunday.

Former world 800 metre champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was killed in a car crash on Friday.

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