How Did Lehlo Ledwaba Die?
Senator Manny Pacquiao took to social media on Saturday, July 3 to express his condolences for the death of South African slugger Lehlo Ledwaba, who died at the age of 49 due to COVID-19 problems.
Death Cause- COVID-19 (Death Date: 2 July 2021)
Who Was Lehlo Ledwaba?
He was born on July 27, 1971, in Soweto, Gauteng.
Ledwaba began his professional boxing career in 1990, but it took him till 1996 to win his first world title, the WBU bantamweight belt, after defeating Cruz Carbajal.
In 1999, he won the vacant IBF super bantamweight title and defended it five times in a row.
In 2001, while preparing to defend his title for the sixth time, the South African pug was stopped in the sixth round by Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It was Pacquiao's biggest break in the boxing world, and he went on to become a legend as a result. The match propelled him to the top of the sport's all-time rankings.
Tributes
We're saddened to learn of former IBF super-bantamweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba's death. According to reports he had been ill with COVID-19 for a week. The South African was just 49 years old.
— Boxing News (@BoxingNewsED) July 3, 2021
Rest in peace, champ. pic.twitter.com/aznkkpcSv1
Pacquiao’s former opponent, Lehlo Ledwaba of South Africa, dies of #COVID19 https://t.co/lNIQvuvc4m
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 3, 2021
Manny Pacquiao pays tribute to his opponent in his 2001 US debut, saying Lehlo Ledwaba left an "amazing legacy." https://t.co/SBDfgOl2Xr
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) July 4, 2021
South African boxer Lehlohonolo "Lehlo" Ledwaba, whose 2001 loss to Manny Pacquiao helped raise the profile of the then-22-year-old Filipino boxer, died July 2 due to Covid, according to reports. He was 49.https://t.co/2BGFJgKAwR
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) July 4, 2021