James Oyebola

Infobox_Boxer
name = James Oyebola
nickname = Big Bad
realname= -
nationality=ENG
weight = Heavyweight
birth_date = birth date|1961|6|10
death_date= death date and age|2007|7|27|1961|6|10
birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria
home = Paddington, London, England
style = Orthodox
total = 23
wins = 18
KO = 16
losses = 4
DQ =
draws = 1
no contests = 0

James Oyebola (10 June 1961 - 27 July 2007) 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 [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2007-07-24-860617622_x.htm] .

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.

Amateur career

Oyebola was the 1986 and 1987 ABA Super Heavyweight Champion.Fact|date=March 2008

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, Cardiff, Wales when he knocked out Clifton Mitchell in 4 rounds. [http://www.britishboxing.net/boxers_19527-James-Oyebola.html] His last fight, in 1996, was a defeat to Julius Francis. He was nicknamed "Big Bad" during his career. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6919568.stm "Oyebola was a 'first-class man'"] "BBC News" (online), 27 July, 2007]

Personal life

Oyebola's fathered two children by Malin Bergstrom, both born in Westminster, 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 ban and was shot as they left the premises. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6912900.stm "Boxer shot over club smoking row"] , "BBC News" (online), 24 July, 2007]

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." [ [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/world/champion-boxer-shot-asking-smokers-to-butt-out/2007/07/25/1185043169185.html Champion boxer shot asking smokers to butt out] , "Brisbane Times" (online), 25 July 2007]

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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6918151.stm "Shot boxer pronounced brain dead"] , "BBC News" (online), 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. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6809848,00.html "Ex-boxer dies after bar shooting"] , "Guardian Unlimited" (online), 27 July, 2007] His funeral was held on 10 September 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6987291.stm "Funeral for shot boxing champion"] , "BBC News" (online), 10 September, 2007]

Aftermath

Kanyanta Mubanga Mulenga (born 1985, Wandsworth, London) was convicted on 8 October 2008 of his murder, he has been sentenced to 28 years in prison. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Ex-boxer murdered in smoking row | date= | publisher= | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7656620.stm | work =BBC | pages = | accessdate = 2008-10-08 | language = ]

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. [citeweb|title=Press Association|url=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gBusGA8Qj6-GnGsxXqdvDUd4TZ4A]

ee also

*Boxing at the 1986 Commonwealth Games

References

External links

*boxrec|id=23417
* [http://www.findmypast.com Births England and Wales 1984-2006]