Ex-champion boxer left brain dead after shooting

London, July 26: Former British heavyweight boxing champion James Oyebola will have his life support machine switched off tomorrow after he was left brain dead from a shooting in a London nightclub, his solicitor said today.

Oyebola, 47, a champion boxer during the 1990s, has been in a critical condition in hospital since Monday when he was shot in the head during an incident at the Chateau 6 nightclub in Fulham, west London.

Oyebola was shot after asking three men to put out their cigarettes, pointing out that smoking in public places was now against the law in Britain.

''He wasn't aggressive but the three saw it as a sign of disrespect. On their way out, one pulled out a gun and started firing at James,'' an unnamed source told The Sun newspaper shortly after the incident.

Police said the 6ft 9ins tall Oyebola was shot in the head and leg in a covered courtyard at the rear of the club.

The three suspects fled on foot. No arrests have been made, police said.

Oyebola, who was born in Nigeria, won 18 of his 23 career fights.

Reuters>