A boxer has died after being knocked down during his first professional fight in London.

Sherif Lawal was treated by paramedics at the scene after the referee ended Sunday's bout in the fourth of a scheduled six rounds.

He was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The UK-based boxer, 29, had lost the fight to Portuguese Malam Varela at Harrow Leisure Centre, in northwest London.

Warren Boxing Management said in an Instagram post that Lawal "collapsed" during the fight.

Heavyweight Tyson Fury said: "God rest his soul. You go in there, you're getting paid for danger.. We're there to inflict damage on each other by punching each other to the head and body and unfortunately things like this happen now and again."

The British Boxing Board of Control issued a statement expressing its condolences to the middleweight boxer's family.

"The thoughts of all those involved in boxing in Great Britain are with them at this difficult time," it said.

The rest of the scheduled bouts at the Harrow event were cancelled after the announcement of Lawal's death.

Cutecharlz:
May his soul rest in peace. Boxing is a very risky sport to dive into...

Namaster:
This is why boxers are one of the few athletes that DESERVE the insane amount of money they are paid.

You enter the ring and the GOAL of your opponent is to knock your brain HARD enough to make you faint.

But you're smart and trained so you guard your head.

Prohlem is your opponent is smart and trained too. So while you're guarding your head, he BATTERS your kidney. Over and over again.

Until you give up and try to guard against body shots. At which point your opponent musters ALL of his strength and deliver a powerful BLOW that rattles your brain inside your skull.

What I'm saying is this:

Boxing is a modern day BLOODSPORT. People train to kill each other with their bare hands for entertainment.

mkoabiola:
Nothing to scare me ..

I will still box professionally