Kenya’s legendary boxer Dick Murunga AKA ‘Tiger’ died at the age of 65 on Friday evening at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
In a statement issued to the media, the Murunga Family said that the iconic boxer died on Friday while undergoing treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital where he was admitted after developing a short illness.
“It is with great sadness that we the Murunga Family announce that the 1972 Munich Olympic Games Bronze Medalist,1973 African Welterweight Champion and Kenya Professional boxing Association founder Dick ‘Tiger’ Murunga is dead.
Dad who was a left-handed boxer passed on yesterday afternoon,26th October 2018, while undergoing treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital after a short illness.
At the time of death, Dad was confined to a wheelchair following a Spinal injury in March of 2002 sustained during training at a Hotel gym in Mombasa. He had retired from the sport 4 years earlier but was recalled by boxing administrators to return to retired professional boxing in New York.
Dad was among the Sports retired personalities awarded during the inaugural National Olympic Committee Gala. We are now urging H E President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyan Government, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya , Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa and all Sports stakeholders to stand with us in this time of need and help us appreciate and recognise the role our dear departed Father played in proudly putting our beautiful Country Kenya on the global professional boxing map.
He is survived by his Wife, children and grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are ongoing.
Regards,
Family Spokesman,
Mohammed Murunga (Son)”
The late Murunga was the first Kenyan professional boxer who won bronze for Kenya in Welterweight at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) chairman Reuben Ndolo paid tribute to Murunga saying he was not only among the first professional boxers in the country but also one of the founding members of KPBC in 1983.
“We have lost a legend and how I wish we could have done more for him as a country,” said Ndolo as he passed his condolences.
Murunga was inspired by his father to start boxing in 1968 at the age of 19. Two years later, he joined Kenya Defence Forces but left in 1973 after allegedly deserting the disciplined forces. The 65-year old Murunga is survived by two wives, Mirriam Wambui and Nawal Ahmed, and seven children.