By Tate Papworth
Friends of popular boxer Dwight ’Cowboy’ Ritchie are digging deep to help his family in their time of need.
Ritchie collapsed and died after receiving a body shot during a competitive sparring session earlier this month.
Ritchie spent a lot of his time at the Keilor-based Team Ellis Boxing gym.
His close friend Jake Ellis said the tight knit community is pulling together.
“I’ve known him since we were kids, he’s one of my closest mates, when I heard it just ripped my heart out,” Mr Ellis said.
“He’s got three kids, all under the age of 10 so we want to make sure they and the family are looked after.
“We’ve started a Gofundme page and we’re hoping to raise a significant amount.
“At the moment we’re at $30,000, but we’re hoping to get that to $50,000 because the IBF ( International Boxing Federation) have said they’ll double what we raise.”
Mr Ellis described his close mate as one of the most “humble” people he’d known.
“He never spoke out of turn and he was incredibly humble.
“His last fight was only recently against Tim Tszyu. He got a massive cut over his eye during that fight and had to carry on for over 30 minutes half blind.
“When he was asked later if that played a part, he said ‘no, the better man won’ and that’s what he was like as a person, incredibly humble.”
He said it was the least he could do to help out a guy who was always there for him.
“He’d fight at all of my promotions, he was just always there.
“Even as kids, he matured a look quicker than I did so if we ever got in trouble he’d protect me.”
To donate visit: www.gofundme.com/f/rest-in-peace-dwight-ritchie
