In a tragic illustration of just how dangerous some sports can be, a British boxer was killed in his very first professional fight.
Sherif Lawal was competing at the Harrow Leisure Centre in London on Sunday, May 12, when he was struck in the temple and collapsed, the event’s promoter Warren Boxing Management said in a statement on social media the following day.
“Last night, Sherif Lawal was making his debut at a show at Harrow Leisure Centre, in which our boxer Courtney Bennett was scheduled to fight,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately during Sherif’s fight, he collapsed and despite the best efforts of the paramedics, he was later pronounced dead.”
According to ESPN, Lawal’s fight against Portuguese opponent Malam Varela was the first match of the event, and the following fights were canceled after Lawal suffered the fatal injury.
Concluding the statement, Warren Boxing Management offered their condolences to Lawal’s “family, friends, coaches and all those close to him at this tragic time.”
The British Boxing Board of Control also released a statement on Monday confirming Lawal’s death, according to NBC. “The thoughts of all those involved in Boxing in Great Britain are with them at this difficult time,” the board’s statement said.
This is not the first of similar tragedies. In 2021, 18-year-old boxer Jeanette Zacarias Zapata sustained injuries to her brain while fighting Canada’s Marie-Pier Houle, according to the Associated Press.
Boxing, with its intense physical demands and competitive nature, has long been recognized for its risks, particularly concerning head injuries and the potential for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). While the sport has a rich history, it is also one of those that are most heavily criticized. Safety measures and medical oversight have evolved over the years, aiming to protect boxers from the most severe outcomes, but despite these efforts, the conversation around boxing’s safety continues, highlighting the need for ongoing research, education, and possibly further reforms to ensure the well-being of those who step into the ring.
A disastrous occurrence like Lawal’s death, a young life cut short–and at the very start of his boxing career– only adds to the scrutiny and criticism.
