Veteran sportswriter, analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz dies at 81

Sports analyst and veteran sportswriter Ronnie Nathanielsz passed away early Saturday morning (Manila Time) at a hospital in California in the United States.

A report on Super Radyo dzBB by sports broadcaster Chino Trinidad said that Nathanielsz died in the ICU of the Mills-Peninsula Medical Centers in Burlingame, California.

Nathanielsz, 81, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack while on his way to witness the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas bout in Las Vegas, Trinidad said. 

Trinidad said Nathanielsz family has not disclosed yet possible plans for the funeral.

The World Boxing Organization has sent condolences to the family of the veteran sports analyst.

WBO statement on the passing of Ronnie Nathanielsz. pic.twitter.com/6aFRE8HgIQ

— WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) November 11, 2016

Nathanlielsz was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the Philippines in 1962, and later became a naturalized Filipino. —LBG, GMA News