Robert Wangila

Robert Napunyi Wangila (born September 3, 1967 in Nairobi — died 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.

Olympic results

*1st round bye
*Defeated Đorđe Petronijević (Yugoslavia) RSC 2
*Defeated Khaidan Gantulga (Mongolia) TKO 2
*Defeated Hristo Furnigov (Bulgaria) 5-0
*Defeated Jan Dydak (Poland) walk-over
*Defeated Laurent Boudouani (France) KO 2

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. [Fightnews, June 9, 2004: [http://www.fightnews.com/smitty009.htm "Fair but Firm" Joe Cortez this week on “In This Corner!”] ] Wallechinsky, David (2004). "The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics", Toronto: Sport Classic Books. ISBN 1-894963-34-2]

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. The will was challenged by Wangila's family in Kenya, but a judge ruled in favor of a Muslim burial.

External links

*

References