James Oyebola
Encyclopedia
James Oyebola was an English
heavyweight boxer
who won a bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
in the super heavyweight
division. Oyebola was the British heavyweight champion from 1994 to 1996.
Oyebola was born on 10 June 1961 in Lagos
, Nigeria
. Standing 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m) tall, with a reach of 85 inches (2.16 m), he fought in the orthodox manner and won 18 of his 23 fights, 16 by knock out, losing 4 and drawing 1.
He was pronounced brain dead
on 26 July 2007 after injuries sustained by gunshot wounds to his head after a nightclub altercation. He was based in Paddington
during his career.
, Wales
when he knocked out Clifton Mitchell in 4 rounds. His last fight, in 1996, was a defeat to Julius Francis
. He was nicknamed "Big Bad" during his career.
, London: Kristel Regina Oyebola (born 1994) and James Babatunde Oyebola (born 1999).
and was shot as they left the premises.
Simon Block, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control
, paid the following tribute: "Throughout that time he was truly one of nature's gentlemen and to think of him lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life as a result of a cowardly and gutless attack by those who will not have been possessed of the same courage that he showed in the way he faced adversity, in and out of the ring, fills me with both sadness and dismay."
Oyebola's family decided that they would turn off his life support machine on 27 July 2007 at 11:30 am (10:30 GMT) after he was pronounced brain dead on 26 July 2007. It was announced at 12:39 pm on 27 July 2007 that James Oyebola had died, at Charing Cross Hospital
, after his life support machine had been switched off. His funeral was held on 10 September 2007.
, London) was convicted on 8 October 2008 of his murder and has been sentenced to 28 years in prison.
A fourth man, who can not be named for legal reasons, is expected to stand trial in the New Year for James' murder.
The Oyebola family have said they will establish a charity foundation in James Oyebola's name aimed at helping direct youngsters towards a brighter future.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
heavyweight boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who won a bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
in the super heavyweight
Super heavyweight
In amateur boxing, the super heavyweight division is a weight class division for fighters weighing in excess of 91 kilograms . Introduced for the 1984 Summer Olympics, the division, despite its grandiose name, is merely the amateur equivalent of the professional heavyweight division...
division. Oyebola was the British heavyweight champion from 1994 to 1996.
Oyebola was born on 10 June 1961 in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Standing 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m) tall, with a reach of 85 inches (2.16 m), he fought in the orthodox manner and won 18 of his 23 fights, 16 by knock out, losing 4 and drawing 1.
He was pronounced brain dead
Brain death
Brain death is the irreversible end of all brain activity due to total necrosis of the cerebral neurons following loss of brain oxygenation. It should not be confused with a persistent vegetative state...
on 26 July 2007 after injuries sustained by gunshot wounds to his head after a nightclub altercation. He was based in Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
during his career.
Amateur career
Oyebola was the 1986 and 1987 ABA Super Heavyweight Champion.Pro career
Oyebola won the WBC International Heavyweight title in 1993 and the vacant British Heavyweight title on 19 November 1994 at the National Ice Rink, CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
when he knocked out Clifton Mitchell in 4 rounds. His last fight, in 1996, was a defeat to Julius Francis
Julius Francis
Julius Francis is a former British Heavyweight champion boxer - who participated in many noteworthy boxing matches in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2007 he also participated in a mixed martial arts bout....
. He was nicknamed "Big Bad" during his career.
Personal life
Oyebola fathered two children by Malin Bergstrom, both born in WestminsterCity of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London: Kristel Regina Oyebola (born 1994) and James Babatunde Oyebola (born 1999).
Murder
Oyebola was shot in the face and leg in the early hours of 23 July 2007 after an altercation in the Chateau 6 club at Fulham Broadway where he was visiting a friend for a drink. He had gone to assist staff asking four customers in the rear courtyard to put out their cigarettes to observe the recently imposed smoking banSmoking ban in England
A smoking ban in England and Wales, making it illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places and enclosed work places in England, came into force on 1 July 2007 as a consequence of the Health Act 2006...
and was shot as they left the premises.
Simon Block, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
, paid the following tribute: "Throughout that time he was truly one of nature's gentlemen and to think of him lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life as a result of a cowardly and gutless attack by those who will not have been possessed of the same courage that he showed in the way he faced adversity, in and out of the ring, fills me with both sadness and dismay."
Oyebola's family decided that they would turn off his life support machine on 27 July 2007 at 11:30 am (10:30 GMT) after he was pronounced brain dead on 26 July 2007. It was announced at 12:39 pm on 27 July 2007 that James Oyebola had died, at Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital is a general, acute hospital located in London, United Kingdom and established in 1818. It is located several miles to the west of the city centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham....
, after his life support machine had been switched off. His funeral was held on 10 September 2007.
Aftermath
Four men were charged with Oyebola's murder, but charges against two, Rene McKoy and Dean Francis, were dropped. Kanyanta Mubanga Mulenga (born 1985, WandsworthLondon Borough of Wandsworth
The London Borough of Wandsworth is a London borough in southwest London, England, and forms part of Inner London.-History:The borough was formed in 1965 from the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea and much of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth, but...
, London) was convicted on 8 October 2008 of his murder and has been sentenced to 28 years in prison.
A fourth man, who can not be named for legal reasons, is expected to stand trial in the New Year for James' murder.
The Oyebola family have said they will establish a charity foundation in James Oyebola's name aimed at helping direct youngsters towards a brighter future.