We hate writing stories like this, but boxing-related deaths have been an unsettling trend this year. Australian middleweight Dwight “The Fighting Cowboy” Ritchie passed away on Saturday after he collapsed during a sparring session. He was 27-years-old.
“It is with great sadness and shock to announce that The Fighting Cowboy Dwight Ritchie sadly passed away today doing what he loved,” said his promoter Jake Ellis over Facebook. “RIP Cowboy you’ll be forever missed.”
The Aussie was preparing Michael Zerafa for his rematch against Jeff Horn when he collapsed from a routine body-shot. No word on whether Zerafa will go on with the fight, but it’s reported Australia’s top boxing star has taken Ritchie’s death understandably hard. The two were more than just sparring partners, with a friendship dating back since they were teenagers.
Currently, Ritchie’s death is being ruled as a freak accident, but that provides little solace to the three daughters he’s leaving behind. He was always a fighter— Ritchie survived cancer twice before his second birthday. He’s also one of the few aboriginal Australian boxers, hailing from the Yorta Yorta people.
After a rough childhood, he found fulfillment in the “sweet science,” falling in love with the sport the moment he threw his first punch. Most recently, Ritchie (19-2) put up a valiant but losing effort in August against Tim Tszyu, the son of the legendary Kostya Tszyu. He was expected to get back into the ring with veteran Tommy Browne on December 6th.
Say what you want about the boxing world, but fighters always rally around a fallen warrior—whether friend, foe or total stranger:
To help raise money for Dwight Ritchie’s daughters, you can donate to the family’s GoFundMe.
