A 15-year-old boxer has died following a competitive bout at a Russian sports academy, sparking a criminal investigation.

The state investigative agency for Russia's Vladimir region says the boy, a student at a state sports academy, was taking part in a competition Saturday when he was knocked down twice. The agency did not identify the boy by name.

After the referee ended the fight, reportedly the boy's third in three days, the young boxer began to have convulsions. He was treated by medical staff at the scene but died in an ambulance.

Investigators say in a statement the case is being handled as a criminal matter of death caused by negligence because the boy had sustained a serious head injury several years previously, meaning that his health "required extra attention".

IN OTHER NEWS: While both boxers are young, twenty-three and twenty-two respectively, it was in reality prospect vs. experienced operator on Friday night, November 4, in Douai, France, when Segolene Lefebvre took on Gabriella Mezei for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Womens Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title.

It was a very entertaining fight with contrasting styles, and in spots the fighters engaged in some big exchanges. Mezei seemed unable to solve the puzzle of Lefebvre, especially in the second half, but in the tenth and final round she again found some success.

Mezei came out strong and fast for the final stanza, and tried everything she could to turn the tide. She connected with some clean shots, and appeared to have Lefebvre momentarily stunned again, but the local girl kept her poker-face and survived the storm.

After ten very good rounds of action, judges Jean Marcel Nartz and Mohamed Hireche both scored the fight 97-93, while judge Christophe Hembert had it slightly wider at 98-92, all for Lefebvre, who improved her record to 6-0 (0). Mezei drops to 7-7-2 (2). The fight was the main event of a show promoted by Douai Boxing Club and Rani Felouki.