Australian Middleweight Champ Dwight ‘Fighting Cowboy’ Richie Dies in Freak Sparring Accident
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
South Brisbane, Australia (November 10th, 2019)– The boxing world recorded its first casualty of November 2019 when Former Australian and OPBF Middleweight champion Dwight ‘The Fighting Cowboy’ Ritchie collapsed and died after a freak sparring accident with Michael Zerafa on November 9, 2019 in Australia. Ritchie was assisting Zerafa in his preparations for Zerafa’s upcoming rematch with Jeff Horn at Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre in South Brisbane, Australia, scheduled for December 18, 2019.
The tragedy is the first since boxing lost super welterweight contender Patrick Day several weeks ago after a KO loss in Chicago.
Ritchie, age 27, 19-2 with two knockouts, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia, walked back to a corner after taking a body shot and collapsed in the sparring ring. Despite best efforts, Ritchie could not be revived. Ritchie’s last ring appearance was this past August 2019, when he lost a ten-round decision to 14-0 Tim Tszyu for Ritchie’s International Boxing Federation Australian Super Welterweight regional title.


