South African heavyweight champion Jimmy Abbott (61) has died on Sunday, March 21 in his home in Heidelberg, Gauteng. Abbott died of heart failure.
Abbott had breathing difficulties and died at 8.40pm.
Heidelberg Volunteer Medics responded to the scene but was unable to sustain Abbott. “Volunteers received a call for an elderly male patient with difficulty breathing and severe heart failure. Volunteers responded immediately and assisted on scene.
“At 20h40 Jimmy Abbott sadly passed away. It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to this great legend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends,” the group posted on Facebook.
According to The South African, Abbott was South Africa’s youngest heavyweight champion in the 1980s and ranked number nine in the world at his peak.
Picture: Twitter