SA boxer dies 24 years after falling into coma

South African boxer Eppie Pohl has died more than 24 years after he lost consciousness during a boxing match.

Pohl was 18-years-old when he became unconscious after a boxing match on June 30 1986 in Pretoria. He never regained consciousness.

Up to his death his mother, Petra, visited him five times a day in hospital and later in a special care facility, the Beeld newspaper reported on Friday.

Pohl, who boxed for the SA Defence Force at the time, received colours in boxing for the then Northern Transvaal.

He died in the Life Health Midmed Hospital in Middelburg on Sunday.

In 1988, two years after Pohl was knocked unconsciousness, the death of junior welter weight boxer Brian Baronet led to huge media coverage.

Baronet died after he was knocked out in a fight with Kenny Vice of the US in Durban.

After his death the laws on the management of boxing and wrestling were changed to make the sport safer.

It was after a match with Gary Ballard that he sank to the floor as he went to his corner.