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.
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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.”
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.