Shot Nigerian boxer: Oyebola's brain dead

[Lovely]

Nigeria's former world boxing champion, James Oyebola, who was shot at a West London night club in the early hours of Monday is brain dead, and doctors will be switching off his life support machine today.

His lawyer, Scott Ewing, made this disclosure yesterday evening. The 47-year-old Nigerian was shot in the face after telling three men to observe the "no smoking," regulation at the Chateau 6 in Fulham Road, South-West London.

The father of two, who later became a licensed boxing manager, and is popularly called "Big dad," worked as a bouncer at a nearby club and had only gone to Chateau 6 to have a drink with the owner, an Irish man, when the incident occurred. Witnesses recalled that Oyebola, a 1986 Commonwealth super heavyweight bronze medallist, 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 - before his attackers opened fire on him.

One of the three men was said to have produced a gun and fired at the 47-year-old's face several times. Oyebola was also hit in the leg before the three men were seen running off in the direction of Fulham Broadway. A handgun was later found at a nearby spot and the place sealed off by Police.