Sherif Lawal had been studying nursing at North Middlesex University alongside his boxing career [Claire Williams]

TRIBUTES have been paid to a boxer who died after he was knocked out during his first professional match.

Sherif Lawal, who lived near Essex Road, had been training at St Pancras Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) alongside coach CJ Hussein since 2012, but only made the decision to turn pro this March.

The 29-year-old’s fight at the Harrow Leisure Centre turned to tragedy after he took a powerful blow to the temple in the fourth round.

Claire Williams, a coach at St Pancras ABC who was ringside at the bout on Sunday, said Mr Lawal fell to his knees face forward following the blow. “The referee started to do a count but then saw that he needed help,” she said. “CJ jumped into the ring to get the gumshield out of his mouth, and at the same time the paramedics came to his aid.”

Paramedics performed CPR on Mr Lawal for 15 minutes, before transporting him in an ambulance to hospital where he was declared dead – with the cause later given as a cardiac arrest.

Ms Williams, speaking on behalf of members and coaches at the gym, said: “We’re absolutely grief stricken, heartbroken, there’s no words for the tragedy we’ve just witnessed. You tell everybody that this is a possibility, but I don’t think anyone goes into that ring thinking they’re not coming out of it again.”

Whilst St Pancras ABC has been shut this week out of respect for Mr Lawal and his family, members have been gathering to lay flowers and pay their respects.

Mr Lawal had also been studying nursing at North Middlesex University alongside his training, and had helped coach younger members of the gym.

Ms Williams described Mr Lawal as “a top bloke”, saying he was a “proper role model” who was disciplined, hardworking and kind.

“He’s going to be a missed guy,” she said. “He’s a top bloke, he really really is – humble, no ego about him, he’s a good one, he really really is a good one.”

Mr Lawal’s coach, Mr Hussein, said: “Sherif was a friend and a brother first, and a boxer second. He was a role model and big brother to everyone in the gym.”

Ms Williams added that Mr Lawal was known around the gym for always having a smile of his face, and wearing a range of vibrant boxing outfits.

She said: “He’d have Nike trainers, one red one, one yellow one. He’d have pink shorts, that was one of his favourites, bright neon-coloured shorts.”

Mr Lawal had travelled internationally as an amateur boxer, competing in France, Denmark and Portugal.

Ben Stinton trained alongside Mr Lawal at St Pancras ABC and said he will remember Mr Lawal as a “lovely human being … who found [his] passion in life and worked hard to achieve his dream.”

He added: “He’s one of the most hard­working individuals I’ve ever met. He was the first in and last out. It was an honour to train alongside him.”

The boxing world is preparing for the biggest weekend of the year as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet in a bout to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in Dubai on Saturday.

Fury said this week: “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. 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 to.”

The Headway brain injury charity has previously called for boxing to be banned due to the risks, but organisers of local events said all the normal safety procedures were in place at the leisure centre and that Mr Lawal had prepared in the right way for the fight.

Ms Williams said: “You couldn’t ask for more experience. He trained, he was fit.

“He maintained his weight, he was disciplined. Absolutely nothing could have been done. That’s the saddest thing.”