BOXING fans have raised thousands for the family of a fighter who died in his first professional bout.
Middleweight Sherif Lawal, 29, collapsed in the ring after being knocked down by Portuguese Malam Varela, 33, on Sunday night.
His sister Katherine set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for a funeral after the sudden death at Harrow Leisure Centre, in North West London.
She wrote: “Sherifdeen passed away while doing the sport he loved and dedicated his life to.
“On top of working towards being a mental health nurse, he was also a devoted support worker in mental health.
“This fundraiser aims to raise funds for his funeral arrangements. Any support you can provide will be deeply appreciated.”
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Last night, more than £10,000 had been raised towards its £15,000 goal.
Flowers were left at his St Pancras Boxing Club in London, where coach Claire Williams has raised £2,600 for Sherif’s family through a separate GoFundMe page.
She wrote on it: “He went out doing what he loved but it shouldn’t have been this way.”
She said Sherif was studying nursing at North Middlesex University.
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
