Robert Wangila

Robert Wangila
Personal information
Born September 3, 1967
Died July 24, 1994
Medal record
Men's Boxing
Representing  Kenya
Olympic Games
1988 Seoul Welterweight
All-Africa Games
1987 Nairobi Featherweight

Robert Napunyi Wangila (September 3, 1967—July 24, 1994) was a Kenyan boxer who won a welterweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. He is still the only Kenyan Olympic gold medal winner outside athletics and the only boxer from Sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa to have won Olympic gold.

Olympic results

Pro career

Robert Wangila turned to professional boxing in 1989 and compiled a career record of 22-5-0.

Death

Wangila died from injuries received in a 1994 fight with David Gonzales in Las Vegas. Wangila had been beaten to such a bad condition that the referee Joe Cortez stopped the match in favour of Gonzales, despite Wangila's fierce protests. After the match, Wangila lapsed into a coma in his dressing room. He was pronounced dead thirty-six hours later.[1][2]

Wangila had converted from Christianity to Islam while in the United States, and his will requested that he be buried according to the wishes of his Muslim wife. Napunyi Wangila, married Queen Noble, May 16, 1992 until his death. The will was challenged by Wangila's family in Kenya, but a judge ruled in favor of a Muslim burial.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Fightnews, June 9, 2004: "Fair but Firm" Joe Cortez this week on “In This Corner!”
  2. 1 2 Wallechinsky, David (2004). The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics, Toronto: Sport Classic Books. ISBN 1-894963-34-2
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