HARARE – Zimbabwe’s boxing board was facing tough questions on Monday after a 24-year-old boxer died following a fight, with the role of the match referee coming under scrutiny.

Boxing fans say the referee, who has not been named, should have stopped the fight long before Taurai Zimunya collapsed in the 3rd round of a none-title six-round bout in Borrowdale on Sunday.

A video of the incident showed Zimunya, evidently unable to continue, take a flurry of punches from Tinashe Majoni until he fell to the ground.

He was transported to Parirenyatwa Hospital still unconscious, and died in the early hours of Monday.

The Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) said it was “shaken” by the young boxer’s death.

Zimbabweans on social media, reacting to the video, raised concerns about the referee’s failure to stop the fight, and questioned whether there was proper medical care rendered at the scene.

“The referee couldn’t even issue a standing eight count? He is allowed to yell STOP and the boxer must obey. Of course, a real ref would be following the action and not just standing there flat footed,” one commented.

“The referee is to blame. He forgot his job while this young man was being killed,” journalist Stanely Gama tweeted. “The boxing board should answer questions. It was like a street fight. This is criminal. Boxing must be banned for now until full safety measures are put in place to avoid a repeat of this tragedy.”

The boxing board said it would await an autopsy report before commenting on further action.

It also insisted: “All the necessary medical procedures were followed and emergency medical assistance was provided at the venue before he was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital where he received further medical care.”

Majoni is from the Charles Manyuchi Academy. The two boxers were taking part in a lightweight bout at the Rise of Champions fight series in the capital.