Hero Tito Knock Out: Boxer Dies After Defeat

Hero Tito, whose real name is Heru Purwanto, died suddenly at the age of 35, only weeks after his knockout loss to James Mokoginta.

Purwanto went into a coma after losing to Mokoginta for the Indonesian lightweight title on February 27.

Mokoginta unleashed a devastating uppercut that knocked Purwanto out with just over a minute left in the seventh round of their rematch.

The referee gave Purwanto a count, but he was still gravely injured and unable to get back to his feet. He then collapsed to the ground as the battle was called off.

As his opponent Mokoginta began to seem anxious, paramedics entered the ring after Purwanto had been down for some minutes before being carried out on a stretcher.

Purwanto was brought to a nearby hospital following the loss, where physicians attempted to save his life, but he died on March 7 after spending a week in a coma.

Rosa Kusuma, Purwanto’s boxing promoter, issued the following statement on behalf of his wife, Didin Nurul Wijayanti: “She thanks all the boxing people who always give support and prayers for Hero Tito.”