The 29-year-old British boxer collapsed after receiving a blow from Portuguese boxer Malam Varela.
Boxer Sherif Lawal died in the ring during his debut professional fight. The 29-year-old collapsed in the ring at Harrow Leisure Centre in London after being hit on the temple by Portuguese boxer Malam Varela (2-4).
Referee Lee Every began the knockout count but stopped when he realized the severity of the British boxer’s condition. Medical staff rushed into the ring and performed CPR on the canvas for more than 10 minutes before he was taken to Northwick Park Hospital, where his death was confirmed, according to Marca.
Sherif Lawal began boxing in 2018 and decided to turn professional earlier this year as a middleweight.
Tyson Fury, awaiting his fight against Oleksandr Usyk, wanted to pay his own tribute to Sherif Lawal upon hearing of his death.
“May God rest his soul. When you enter this world, you know it’s a dangerous sport. You go in there, and you get paid danger money; they’re smashing your brain; you’re not there to tickle each other to death; we’re there to inflict damage on each other by hitting each other in the head and body… Unfortunately, things like this happen from time to time. We all know what we’re getting into,” Fury said.
“It’s like people who skydive, occasionally the parachute doesn’t open and they fall to the ground. That doesn’t stop everyone from skydiving,” he added.
Tyson Fury acknowledged that “I’ve known the risks all my life; it is what it is” and noted that “if it’s my time and God’s will, then I will die. If not, I’ll live.”
