Boxers Who Died in 2021

Boxing is a very dangerous sport. The amount of stress the fighters put their body and mind through while training and also while fighting in the ring can have harmful effects on their health.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is one of the most common problems boxers face due to repeated blows to their head. In some very rare cases, fighters experience severe brain damage or lose their lives in the ring.

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Today we take a look at the fighters that lost their lives to the sport they love in 2021. We also take a look at former fighters who have lost their lives.

Leon Spinks

Leon Spinks, the man who became an Olympic champion and then stunned the world by dethroning Muhammad Ali, has sadly passed away at the age of 67.

“Neon” Leon Spinks, 1970s heavyweight champion, 1976 Olympic gold medalist and absolutely unforgettable character.#boxing #history pic.twitter.com/QJAysfCWdy

— Boxing History (@BoxingHistory) December 17, 2021

The former champ died on 5th February in Henderson, Nevada. At the time of his death, he was battling Prostate Cancer in hospital.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler 

The towering former middleweight champion, Marvin Hagler, passed away on 13th March 2021 at the age of 66. Hagler’s wife Kay Guarrera announced his death on Facebook.

(Original Caption) New York, New York: Marvin Hagler vs. Mustafa Hamstro Fight. Madison Square Garden, World Middleweight title fight. Hagler won with a knock out in the 3rd round.

Guarrera wrote, “I am sorry to make a very sad announcement. Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire. Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.” 

Vasile Belous

The Olympic community went into mourning when the former Olympian, Vasile Belous, passed away at the age of 33. Belous, one of the best fighters the country had ever produced, died in a car crash in Moldova.

Today, August 31st, Moldovan Boxer Vasile Belous passed away at the age of 33. He represented Moldova in the men’s Welterweight at the 2012 London Summer Games.https://t.co/0rYgyS1dur pic.twitter.com/ipBFwhoeEb

— Lost Olympians (@LostOlympians) August 31, 2021

Police pronounced him dead at the scene on August 31st this year in the town of Calaraseuca just a few days after his 33rd birthday.

Jeanette Zacarias Zapata

18-year-old Mexican boxer Jeanette Zacarias Zapata passed away at the hospital after her fight against Marie Pier Houle. Houle caught her with a left uppercut and a right hook that knocked her out.

Jeanette Zacarias Zapata Dies Of Head Injuries After Boxing Match https://t.co/ta48id8jkR pic.twitter.com/EAUm1K3DNW

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) September 3, 2021

Her body went into convulsions and medics placed her in a medically induced coma. However, the doctors could not save her as she passed away just five days after her fight.

Taurai Zimunya

Taurai Zimunya passed away because of injuries he sustained during his fight against Tinashe Majoni in Zimbabwe. This marks the first time a boxer has died in Zimbabwe due to match-related injuries.

TRAGIC: A boxer has died after a referee failed to stop a fight where he was visibly unable to continue. Taurai Zimunya, 24, was hospitalised at Parirenyatwa Hospital following the non-title bout in Borrowdale on Sunday. The boxing board said it was “shaken” by the incident pic.twitter.com/OpkTbKMw8v

— ZimLive (@zimlive) November 1, 2021

His death raised a lot of questions about the security of the fighters and the medical attention they receive inside the ring.

Danny Kelly Jr

Danny Kelly Jr., a professional boxer, was shot and killed on Christmas Eve in Maryland.

Tragic story || Danny Kelly Jr. was a father, a role model & a pro boxer. He was shot and killed in a possible road rage incident #ChristmasEve in Temple Hills. His 3 kids, aged 4, 7, and 9, were in the car.

We spoke with his grandmother, his godmother, and his cousin. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/SEhC3z78un

— Evan Koslof (@ekoslof) December 26, 2021

Kelly and his family were traveling to an event when the suspect’s vehicle pulled up next to his vehicle and opened fire.

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