July 24, 1994: Kenya and Africa’s first Olympic boxing gold medalist Mr. Robert Wangila (centre) dies from a head injury suffered during a professional fight in Las Vegas, Nevada last Friday night. Mr. Wangila, who won the Olympic welterweight gold at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, died at 10.30 a.m. (1730 GMT) at University Medical Centre in Las Vegas. Dr Albert Capanna, who performed surgery on Mr. Wangila on Saturday morning , said the fighter had a large blood clot on the right side of his head. Mr. Wangila was on a life support system following the surgery. Mr. Wangila, 27, who lived in Las Vegas, was stopped in the ninth round of a scheduled 10-round bout against world-ranked American welterweight David Gonzales. Mr. Wangila left the ring under his own power and appeared to be all right. About 30 minutes after the bout, however, Mr. Wangila started vomiting and then collapsed. Oxygen was administered and an ambulance took him to hospital. Seen here with Hurdler Rose tata (left) and Marathoner Pascalline Wangui at a luncheon.

Photo|Nation Syndication