James Oyebola

James Oyebola (10 June 1961 – 27 July 2007) was a Nigerian and British 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.[1]

James Oyebola
Statistics
Nickname(s)Big Bad
Weight(s)Heavyweight
NationalityNigerian
British
Born(1961-06-10)10 June 1961
Lagos, Nigeria
Died27 July 2007(2007-07-27) (aged 46)
Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights23
Wins18
Wins by KO16
Losses4
Draws1
No contests0
Medal record
Commonwealth Games
1986 EdinburghSuper Heavyweight

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.

Amateur career

Oyebola was the ABA Super Heavyweight Champion in 1986 and 1987.[2]

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.[3] His last fight, in 1996, was a defeat to Julius Francis. He was nicknamed "Big Bad" during his career.[4]

Personal life

Oyebola 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 back of the neck 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.[5]

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."[6]

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.[7] 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.[8] His funeral was held on 10 September 2007.[9]

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, Wandsworth, London) was convicted on 8 October 2008 of his murder and has been sentenced to 28 years in prison.[10]

A fourth man, who can not be named for legal reasons, was expected to stand trial in 2009 for James' murder.[11]

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.[12]

Professional boxing record
18 Wins (16 knockouts, 2 decisions), 4 Losses (4 knockouts), 1 Draws
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd. Date Location Notes
Loss 18–4-1 Julius Francis TKO 10 (10), 2:31 27 September 1997 Broadway Theatre, Barking, London BBBofC Southern Area Heavy Title.
Win 18–3-1 Scott Welch TKO 10 (12) 27 October 1995 Metropole Hotel, Brighton, East Sussex Vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavy Title, BBBofC British Heavy Title.
Win 18–2-1 Keith McMurray TKO 7 (10), 1:41 7 February, 1995 Corn Exchange, Ipswich, Suffolk
Win 17–2-1 Clifton Mitchell KO 4 (12), 0:58 19 November 1994 National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales Vacant BBBofC British Heavy Title.
Win 16–2-1 Scott Welch KO 5 (12), 1;00 6 May 1994 Boardwalk Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey World Boxing Council International Heavy Title, Oyebola down in the 3rd round.
Win 15–2-1 Ladislao Mijangos TKO 2 (8), 1:32 9 February, 1994 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Win 14–2-1 Jimmy Bills PTS 8 (8) 1 December 1993 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Win 13–2-1 Roger McKenzie TKO 1 (12) 13 October 1993 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London Vacant World Boxing Council International Heavy Title, BBBofC Southern Area Heavy Title
Win 12–2-1 Denroy Bryan TKO 5 (6), 2:15 15 September 1993 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Win 11–2-1 Bombaphani Bonyongo Destroyer KO 1 (?) 18 May 1991 Harare, Zimbabwe
Win 10–2-1 Stan Campbell KO 1 (?), 2:26 4 April 1991 Convention Center, Greenville, Mississippi
Loss 9–2-1 John Westgarth TKO 5 (6), 0:45 07 March, 1989 Hudsons Sports Centre, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Win 9–1-1 Art Terry KO 5 (8) 15 February, 1989 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Win 8–1-1 John Westgarth KO 3 (6) 31 January 1989 Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire
Win 7–1-1 Everton Champion Christian KO 1 (6) 23 November 1988 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Win 6–1-1 Dorcy Gaymon TKO 1 (6), 0:49 01 November, 1988 Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire
Win 5–1-1 Tee Lewis KO 1 (?) 07 September, 1988 Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire
Draw 4–1-1 Andrew Gerrard PTS 6 (6) 05 May, 1988 Municipal Hall, Tottenham, London
Win 4–1 Denroy Bryan TKO 6 (6), 1:44 09 February, 1988 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Loss 3–1 Mike Jones TKO 2 (6) 24 November 1987 Hudsons Sports Centre, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Win 3–0 Carl Timbrell KO 2 (6) 03 November, 1987 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Win 2–0 Ian Priest TKO 2 (8), 2:39 16 September 1987 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Win 1–0 Andrew Gerrard PTS 6 (6) 01 July, 1987 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London Professional debut.

See also

References
  1. "Former boxer James Oyebola shot in face after asking men to stop smoking", USA Today (online), 24 July 2007
  2. "ABA Super Heavyweight Champions". Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  3. James Oyebola Archived 11 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, BritishBoxing.net
  4. "Oyebola was a 'first-class man'" BBC News (online), 27 July 2007
  5. "Boxer shot over club smoking row", BBC News (online), 24 July 2007
  6. Champion boxer shot asking smokers to butt out, Brisbane Times (online), 25 July 2007
  7. "Shot boxer pronounced brain dead", BBC News (online), 26 July 2007
  8. "Ex-boxer dies after bar shooting", Guardian Unlimited (online), 27 July 2007
  9. "Funeral for shot boxing champion", BBC News (online), 10 September 2007
  10. "Ex-boxer murdered in smoking row". BBC. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  11. "Accused gunman gives evidence in murder trial". EDP. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  12. "Press Association".
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