BOXER Warren Stowe today trembled as he confessed: "I thought I was going to die."

The Burnley Bulldog took a dive under the Cape Town ring when shooting broke out and a man was killed during his bout against South African middleweight champion Simon Maseko.

The two boxers, trainers and fight officials packed under the canvas as chaos erupted in the black township stadium and more shots rang out.

Speaking from his hotel today Warren, 30, said: "It was terrifying.

"I thought they were after me and I really thought I was going to die."

He went on: "There were very few whites in there and the atmosphere had been tense and threatening all night.

"People were scattering, screaming and shouting and I counted seven shots. It was chaos. The bullets could have been going anywhere.

"My opponent was next to me and he was also terrified.

"There was no way I was moving until the police came."

"When they started firing guns I though they were shooting at me," he added.

"When I was under the ring people kept telling me to stay there. I honestly thought I was going to die."

Warren and his Halifax-based trainer, Jimmy Moore, stayed under the ring until security forces arrived about 15 minutes later. They later learned that he shooting started at the Gugulethu township outdoor arena after a spectator grabbed security guard Wynund Botma's gun and shot him twice through the head, apparently as an attempt to steal the gate money.

Four other men were also reported to have opened fire before fleeing empty-handed in a car.

The violence erupted at the start of the eighth round of the scheduled 10 rounder - Stowe's 20th contest and one hailed as the most important of his career.

The fight was declared void.

Back in the safety of his hotel, Warren immediately rang his girlfriend Toni in Rossendale to tell her he was safe and well.

He also put in a call to manager Jack Doughty, who said today: "Warren was clearly shaken and just wants to get home as soon as possible."

The boxer, who has won 17 contests, is hoping for an earlier return to Britain than the Thursday flight he has booked.

He added: "Even before the fight I saw two muggings and a shooting. It is not for me and I won't be coming back."

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