A positive report is that injured boxer Ludumo “9mm” Lamati, who still remains hospitalised in Belfast, where he was operated last week to remove a clot in his brain, is awake and is even talking.
He had been in induced coma since being admitted after collapsing following his match against WBC silver featherweight Brit champion Nick Ball.
Lamati’s cornermen had thrown in the towel. That is done in boxing to indicate to a referee that he must stop the proceedings.
On Saturday, Lamati’s manager Larry Wainstein – also a boxing promoter – who had accompanied his charge to Nothern Ireland, issued a statement which reads: “Ludumo is alert and showing signs of positive progress. The medical staff have him under supervision and are looking after him nicely. Please continue the positive prayer for the champion.”
Accomplished boxing manager Mlandleli Tengimfene, who made friends with Monkstown Boxing Club in Belfast when his charge Zolani “Last Born” Tete fought there twice, said: “I made a request to my guys over there (they opened their gym for Zolani to train there) to visit Lamati. They gave me a report that indeed they visited Lamati in hospital. They said he is awake and they showed him a picture of myself and Zolani and he recognised us.
“That is wonderful progress and they will continue visiting him and giving me report back.”
Tengimfene added he read on social media that boxers in Belfast had started what is called a GoFundMe to raise money for Lamati.
Former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, who used to train at Monkstown Boxing Club, is part of it.
“I then contacted Carl to check if it was legit, and he confirmed that they have indeed started that fund so that Lamati continues getting quality medical care when he is here,” he said, because the insurance they always took going out there covers a fighter only for hospitalisation.
“Once you're out of the UK you are on your own,” said Tengimfene. Apparently, over R100,000 has already been raised for 31-year-old Lamati.
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