Sad news to report. Internet broadcaster and former boxer Cyprian "CP" Khumalo passed away last week at the age of 41. The cause of death was unknown.
Mr. Khumalo, a native of South Africa, lived in Maryland and had a very short stint as a pro boxer in 2012. Mr. Khumalo later turned his attention to the coverage of boxing and other sports through his DMV Sports Zone YouTube series. Not only was boxing covered on the show but also what Mr. Khumalo called "grass roots" sports such as youth and club soccer, football and tennis.
There is a memorial service planned for Mr. Khumalo in the near future. The funds are limited for a proper burial in the United States. There is a GoFundMe page that is raising money for final expenses. Here is the link: http://www.gofundme.com/DentProfessor. Please give whatever you can.
On a personal note, this is a tough loss for me. CP was someone that had a lot of passion for coverage of local sports. He reminded me a lot of myself in my younger days when I covered DC high school football and basketball and when I started covering Beltway Boxing. That passion and enthusiasm that CP had will truly be missed.
The two of us crossed paths at a number of events before I met CP formally at the Champion Class boxing event at UDC in May of 2013. CP was working on a documentary called "Why We Box." CP interviewed me for the documentary and I helped him get other interviews for the project.
I was blessed to be one of CP's first in-studio guests when he started his DMV Sports Zone series. The interview turned out to be a very frank discussion about the Beltway Boxing scene in 2013. Here is the video. Please take a few moments to watch:
Also, CP videotaped one of our BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up shows one night. The night was long and very busy for us but lugging a camera around all evening took its toll on CP and he barely stayed awake long enough to finish the video. It was a great moment.
Again, this is a tough loss for not only the Beltway Boxing community but also the local sports community. Cyprian "CP" Khumalo was a friend to both and he, again, will truly be missed.
I'm always saddened when I've had the opportunity to make a friend and find out that they have passed away. You'll be missed Cyprian! R.I.P
ReplyDeleteMan terrible news r.i.p fam.....
ReplyDeleteSportsman and entrepreneur, Cyprian was a unique and unforgettable man. He will be missed by all who knew him.
ReplyDeleteCyprian was my like a brother to my husband here in south Africa.we still don't believe his gone.and we still searching for his.family from ZIMBABWE .and his daughter is looking for him as he left the mother pregnant in Johannesburg south Africa
DeleteHey, did you manage to trace Cyprian's family in Zimbabwe? I am so sorry to learn about his passing on. Did his daughter get to connect with her late daddy's family? I knew Cyprian in primary school in the early 1980s, at Mt Melleray Mission where I met him, his late elder brother Desmond and Steven Makahamadze who were in my class both at primary and high school at Marist Brothers, Nyanga High school
DeleteHi
DeleteWe haven't managed to locate his family but the daughter is definately looking yo meet Cyprians family. Please inbox me bmogwasa@gmail.com
Oh dyamnnn he's dead... I helped him get ready for his 2nd fight w/ Joshua Greer before I put on the lbs... I know he was drained a bit when he was 128lbs and that was a little bit before the fight so to cut 2 more lbs probably left him a little weak just like his first pro fight, he couldn't score and stayed defensive. I know my southpaw lefts did a number on him in camp too so it just goes to show you how good preparation can affect things & how getting through training in boxing is not garenteed and you can arrive on fight day in worse shape than before you started camp.
ReplyDeleteI could see that he wandered sometimes when we were talking, possibly some signs of cte. Hopefully they could examine his brain to see. A very good fighter more than capable of winning fights with the right preparation. But in boxing, your very abilities and the fabric that defines you diminish with each unrolled, flush headshot you take.
Anyways, I am in the process of returning to the ring, and I still got that nice red jacket from CPboxing. I will represent his memory when I return. Rip Champ, thanks for all the boxing knowledge you taught me in the short time working together!
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ReplyDeleteOh my God, I am so sorry to learn about Cyprian's passing on. I went to school with him, his late brother Desmond Makahamadze and cousin Steven Makahamadze at Mount Melleray Mission Primary School in Nyanga, Zimbabwe in the early 80's. He later moved to South Africa on the eve of its democracy and we lost contact only to reunite via Facebook early in the years 2000s. By then he was now using the surname Khumalo which he adopted when he moved to South Africa where he was adopted by the Khumalo family in Soweto.
ReplyDeleteHe is originally from Nyanga in Zimbabwe but his family had moved to Rusape near Kriste Mambo.
I am his daughter so what happened to his family since he's no more cos I really need to meet them
DeleteMy numbers 0604452833 or 0719495016
I believe that you are in contact with Stephen already from what he told me recently. All the best
DeleteI am his daughter so I want to know what has happened cos I have been looking for him since
ReplyDeleteyes i am but i need to know what happened to him there,so is there anything you can tell me so you'll find me here 0677856103 my whatsapp numbers.
ReplyDeleteCP would smile knowing the Fighting machine I've become, I'm gonna knock everybody out!
ReplyDelete