This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
On November 9, 2019, Australian boxing lost one of its brightest talents when 27-year-old Dwight Ritchie died in a freak accident during a sparring session.
Ritchie, known as 'The Fighting Cowboy,' was helping light middleweight star Michael Zerafa prepare for his rematch with Australian legend Jeff Horn.
During a regulation sparring session with Zerafa, Ritchie took a body punch before he walked back to his corner and collapsed, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Ritchie had 21 professional fights and boasted a record of 19 victories, of which two came by knockout, and two defeats.
His most recent fight, in August, saw him miss out on the IBF Australasian Super Welter Title in a unanimous decision to Tim Tszyu.
Tszyu posted on Facebook: "Today we lost a champion both in and out of the ring with the tragic passing of Dwight Ritchie. As a group we are all shattered, our thought and prayers go out to the Ritchie family as we all take a moment to remember a great warrior and champion. Gone to soon."
