Robert Wangila

Robert Wangila’s boxing career saw the best of the best and the worst of the worst. He won the welterweight gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, still the only Kenyan gold medalist outside of athletics (through 2016). He turned pro only a few months later, winning his first professional bout by unanimous decision over Sydney Ubeda Gomes in February 1989. Wangila fought mostly in Las Vegas as a professional, ending with a career record of 22 wins (15 by KO) and 5 losses. He had one minor title fight, as in October 1993 he fought Troy Water for the vacant World Boxing Board super-welterweight title, but lost by TKO.

Wangila was matched against David Gonzales in Las Vegas on July 1994, but was pummeled into submission and the bout was stopped. In his dressing room Wangila lapsed into a coma and never recovered, being pronounced brain dead 36 hours later. Wangila had converted to Islam shortly before the fight and his will requested a Muslim burial. This was challenged by his Kenyan family, but a judge ruled in his favor.