British boxer Sherif Lawal, 29, died this Sunday in his first fight as a professional. Lawal was knocked down by a right hand to the temple of his rival, the Portuguese Malam Varela, and was left lying in the ring in the fourth round of the middleweight fight.
The referee started the count to announce the knockout, but realized the seriousness of the situation and called the paramedics at Harrow Leisure Centre. They tried to revive him on the canvas for more than ten minutes and took him to Northwick Park Hospital, but they could not do anything for his life and he was certified dead at the hospital.
“Unfortunately, during the fight Sherif collapsed and, despite the efforts of paramedics, was pronounced dead,” announced the fight organizers, Warren Boxing Management. Lawal had started boxing in 2018 and this was his first fight as a professional.
“The British Boxing Board of Control sends its condolences to the family of Sherifdeen Lawal following her tragic passing following her boxing competition on Sunday,” the board posted on X on Monday. “The thoughts of everyone involved in boxing in Britain are with them at this difficult time.”