TYSON FURY has paid tribute to British boxer Sherif Lawal after he tragically died following his defeat on his professional boxing debut on Sunday night.
The 29-year-old middleweight was knocked down by Malam Varela in round four of their six-round bout, and before referee Lee Every finished the count, he saw the fighter was in a serious condition and called for medics.
CPR was administered for up to 15 minutes and he was taken to Northwick Park Hospital where was pronounced dead and the remainder of the show was cancelled.
Fury paid tribute to Lawal from Riyadh, saying: “God rest his soul, poor old fella.
“You know getting into this sport that it’s a dangerous sport.
“You go in there and get paid danger money, you’re getting your brains knocked out.
“You’re not there to tickle each other to death, we’re there to inflict damage on each other by punching each other to the head and body.
“Unfortunately, things like this happen now and again. We all know what we’re getting in for.
“It’s like people who do parachute jumping, now and again the parachute doesn’t open and they hit the floor.
“It doesn’t stop everyone from parachute jumping.
“I’ve known the risks my whole life, it is what it is. If it’s my time and it’s God’s will then I’ll die, if not I’ll live.
“I can’t tempt fate.
“In Terminator, Sarah Connor wrote something like don’t tempt fate.
“I can’t decide what happens in the future or worry about it either.”
The British Boxing Board of Control added: “The British Boxing Board of Control sends their condolences to the family of Sherifdeen Lawal following his tragic passing after his Boxing contest on Sunday, 12th May 2024.
“The thoughts of all those involved in Boxing in Great Britain are with them at this difficult time.”
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