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Shepparton boxer Dwight Ritchie dies aged 27 in training accident

By Alex Mitchell

Nov 9, 2019

Shepparton's sporting community is in shock after boxer Dwight Ritchie died tragically on Saturday in a freak training injury.

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The 27-year-old was sparring with WBA Oceania middleweight champion Michael Zerafa in Melbourne, when he was struck with a punch and unable to be revived.

The Daily Telegraph reported Ritchie was caught with a body shot, walked back to his corner and collapsed, a position from which he would not recover.

Ritchie's promoter Jake Ellis confirmed the news on Facebook, struggling to come to terms with the loss.

"It is with great sadness and shock to announce that the "Fighting Cowboy" Dwight Ritchie sadly passed away today doing what he loved," he wrote.

"As Dwight’s promoter and friend it’s unbearable to accept the tragic news that’s just surfaced.

"Dwight will always be remembered by the boxing fraternity as one of the brightest talents in Australia whose fighting style embodied exactly how he lived."

More to come.