http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article05

A NIGERIAN-BORN boxer and former world heavyweight champion, James Oyebola, has been put on life support, after being shot in the face at a Fulham night club, in West London at about 1.00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Six feet, nine inches tall, Oyebola, also known as Big Dad, worked at a nearby club as a bouncer and only went to the club to have a drink with the owner, an Irish man, when the incident occurred.

According to witnesses, the Nigerian father of two had politely stepped in to assist the club's staff, who had asked three black men to observe the "no smoking" law which came into effect in all British pubs and bars on July 1. One of the three men later produced a gun and fired at the Oyebola's face several times.

The 47-year-old boxer was also hit in the leg before the three men were seen running off in the direction of Fulham broadway. A handgun has been found at a nearby spot and Police have since sealed off the scene, which is opposite Fulham Broadway Tube Station.

Oyebola, a 1986 Commonwealth super heavyweight bronze medalist - an event at which Lennox Lewis won the gold - had an impressive professional career of 18 wins - 16 being within the distance - out of 23 fights. He reached the pinnacle of his career in 1993, winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) international heavyweight title. Three years later, he retired after losing his last fight to former British Heavyweight champion, Julius Francis.

Although reports indicate that he is unlikely to survive the shooting, Oyebola's wife of 15 years and their children are still keeping a bedside vigil.

Although the motive of the shooting is still not clear, detectives from Operation Trident - which investigate black-on-black gun crime - are meeting over it and also appealing for information.

Detective Chief Inspector, Scott Wilson wants "anyone with information to come forward to Police and assist us in bringing those responsible for gravely injuring James to justice."

He said: "We are still trying to piece it together," adding that "it would appear that James was trying to be the peacemaker and the altercation over smoking escalated from there." Wilson disclosed further that the shooting "was over very quickly, probably a matter of seconds."

He noted that James "is a family man and has a long-term partner whose two children are absolutely distraught by what has happened. Without doubt, to shoot a man like this is absolutely deplorable and these people need to be caught."

Some witnesses disclosed how the former world champion had politely stepped in to help the staff, only to be fired at without warning. "He wasn't aggressive," said a witness. Oyebola, the witness continued, "was just being a good citizen but the three saw it as a sign of disrespect. On their way out, one of them pulled out a gun and began firing at James."

Poor guy. I really hope he survives 

Very sad indeed. I wish he and his family the best.

I pray he survives, so sad

Black problem is everywhere,always the last to catch up.What the italians and the irish did in late 19th and middle 20th century is what they are trying do now in the 21st century,not even to be compared with italians and irish,because they did it for money and establishment but this people just do it for nothing,ignorance,a house divided amoung itself,can never stand. We recognise there is pressure form the system against black people in general,but then the best way to fight pressure is not violence,but by using the mind as a weapon to overcome.

the life support machine is to be turned off at 11.30 this morning. sad. may his sould rest in peace.

amen

Amen! Very sad!.

So British people don kill decent hardworking Nigerian and all I hear is that it is sad. British people are not all killers. It is just only sad.

Meanwhile, did you notice that they didn't forget to mention that the shooters were black?

And somebody is saying "we". Are we the three British men that shot this innocent Nigerian dead? Now they have segregated them to black. But if they won a gold medal now, they will be British.

they keep killing the Good hardworking Nigerians and they complain that only the bad ones are left.

RIP. They should check that his killlers are not his tribal brothers from Nigeria. They don carry their Oyo state-like killing go London.

whats d problem here? The guy is a Nigerian born British guy - he doesnt claim Nigeria, not a problem, sad he is shut, sad he is no nmore, why are u people introducing blacknes or Nigerianess into it? How many young British Nigerians had been killed in London over the past 6 months, over 4 of them - in East London area, all under 20, and how many Nigerian born British or no British killers are out there in London, convicted?

So stop this idea of seeing racial background in everything, if the killers are white, it is said, so if ther are black, it will be said as well, so what is the problem?

Please. They reported that the killers were black because they want to start buck passing. One day you'll know what this is all about. But I guess today is not the day.

@Denex

And if the killers are actually black - they should not say it still? Black or white, the killers will be told.

Buck passing to who? What is the meaning of buck passing?

When they win gold medals in the Olympics, do they say its a black athlete?

Please forget these people they know that they do.

so when a black man shoots they should say its a white man?

In a mixed society, When a man shoots, they should say a man shoots unless they have some motive by saying a Black man shoots.

u simply have no point.

You're simply being simple_you.

i think there is clearly and simply a motion there if u stop livly blindly

It is not particularlly about race but the fact that mostly young disillusion blacks,even adult,are killing each other and those unfortunate to be on their way over petty things commonly fuel by drugs.Just like nigerian universities back then,cults members killing each other over little things like talking to my girl,stepping on my shoes,not buying me booze,you know,some silly things,just because they have guns and clique they want to impress.It is a phase,and i hope they get over it or be killed.Violent is the heart of the society,even the goverment people look up to are the most violent,george bush for example,this people kill hundreds of people every day and it is shown on tv for children to see and you still expect them to be normal,it is a difficult fight,especially for broken homes,single parents with little or no grip of themselves,having children and in turn have nothing to offer a child,in a prejudice society,the child will just grow up crazy and loveless.

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u simply have no point.

nope, you just missed the point my dear

That the politics in UK, they will always tell you is black when it coms to bad thing. Even them Scots complain too, when a scot man win a medal BBc will proclaim him or her british but when an english man win they will remove british and call him an english man. Do we have option NO. danex my brother be careful b4 they call you terrorist.