British boxer Sherif Lawal, 29, has died after falling into the ring after being punched in the face during his first professional fight.
The incident occurred last Sunday at the Harrow Sports Centre on the outskirts of London, during Lawal’s clash against Portuguese boxer Malam Varela.
Warren Boxing Management announced that Lawal was punched hard in the temple during the fourth round of six rounds, which led to him falling to the ground motionless, and paramedics made great efforts to save him, but later declared him dead.
The organizing company issued an official statement, in which it confirmed the tragic incident and said: “Unfortunately, Sharif collapsed during his fight, and despite the great efforts made by the paramedics, he was later pronounced dead,” and the company canceled the rest of the fights scheduled for that day due to the accident.
For its part, the British Boxing Control Council, through its official account on the “X” platform, expressed its condolences to the boxer’s family, stressing the tragic nature of such incidents in the sport of boxing.
Boxing has seen similar tragic incidents in the past, with Filipino boxer Kenneth Igano, 22, dying last year after suffering a brain hemorrhage and falling into a coma after winning a fight against Jason Vacularin.
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