James Oyebola
| James Oyebola | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Big Bad |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Nationality | Nigerian British |
| Born |
10 June 1961 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Died | 27 July 2007 (aged 46) Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 23 |
| Wins | 18 |
| Wins by KO | 16 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
|
Medal record
|
|
James Oyebola (10 June 1961 – 27 July 2007) was a 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 in Lagos, Nigeria. Standing 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, with a reach of 85 inches (2.16 m), he fought in the orthodox stance and won 18 of his 23 fights, 16 by knock out, losing four and drawing one. He was pronounced brain dead after injuries sustained by gunshot wounds to his head after a nightclub altercation. He was based in Paddington during his career.
Oyebola was the ABA Super Heavyweight Champion in 1986 and 1987.
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. His last fight, in 1996, was a defeat to Julius Francis. He was nicknamed "Big Bad" during his career.
Oyebola fathered two children by Malin Bergstrom, both born in Westminster, London: Kristel Regina Oyebola (born 1994) and James Babatunde Oyebola (born 1999).
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.
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."
...
Wikipedia