Nkabiti’s death opens up old wounds

Johannesburg - Former two-time world champion Brian “Mean Machine” Mitchell says Herbert Nkabiti’s death has brought back bad memories of seeing his own opponent, Jacob “Dancing Shoes” Morake, die a day after sustaining a head injury during their bout almost 32 years ago.

Morake was knocked out in the 12th round of their South African junior lightweight title contest at the Sun City Superbowl in 1985 and did not regain consciousness.

Nkabiti (36), from Botswana, collapsed at the end of the sixth round in a light welterweight non-title bout against Willis Baloyi at Carnival City in Brakpan last Friday.