Detached retina likely ends Ledwaba's career

04/07/2007

Detached retina likely ends Ledwaba's career

According to the South African website Supersport Zone, former champion Lehlo Ledwaba has a detached retina that will likely end his distinguished 16-year pro boxing career. Ledwaba, age 37, was the rare South African boxer who had great success at the world level. He held the IBF 122-pound championship from 1999-2001, winning six world title fights before losing to Manny Pacquiao. He beat four men who held world titles (John Michael Johnson, Victor Polo Perez, Vuyani Bungu and Cruz Carbajal) en route to a 36-6-1 career mark. He was slated to fight another ex-titlist, Malcolm Klassen this weekend, but an eye exam revealed the detached retina, likely suffered in his last fight, a surprising loss to unheralded Maxwell Awuku. --Scott Shaffer