9 May 2012

Tahiti autopsy of deceased NZ boxer inconclusive

11:41 am on 9 May 2012

Further tests are expected in French Polynesia to determine why a 30-year-old New Zealand lightweight boxer, Willman Rodriguez Gomez, died last weekend.

The athlete collapsed 32 seconds into his first professional fight and died an hour later in hospital.

Local television says the autopsy has been inconclusive and more examinations are required.

Gomez, who was a former kickboxer, was boxing against Karihi Tehei, who also had his first professional fight.

The French Polynesian Boxing Federation says his body will be repatriated to New Zealand tomorrow.