Hassan Mgaya dies aged 29 as boxer tragically passes away days after knockout defeat
Boxer Hassan Mgaya has tragically passed away at the age of just 29 following injuries sustained in the ring.
The Tanzania fighter suffered a knockout loss to Paul Elias in Dar-Es-Salaam on December 27. Immediately after the bout, he was rushed to hospital but, sadly, succumbed to his injuries three days later on December 30.
In a heartfelt statement, the WBC announced: "Tanzanian professional boxer Hassan Mgaya passed away on December 30, 2024, from injuries resulting from a knockout he received on December 27." They added that Mgaya had initially been taken to Palestine Hospital in Sinza, Tanzania, before being moved to Mwananyamala Hospital where he spent his last moments.
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The WBC and its President, Mauricio Sulaiman, expressed their condolences: "The entire WBC family and President Mauricio Sulaiman send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our beloved champion. Rest in Peace."
Reports from Tanzania say that Mgaya collapsed in the fifth round against Elias and bit his tongue. He was given immediate first aid in the ring and then urgently transported to the hospital. Nsajigwa Mwangamilo, the acting secretary of the Tanzanian Commission, expressed his sorrow over Mgaya's passing, stating: "We extend our deepest condolences to the family and boxing stakeholders in the country."
Mgaya had competed in eight professional fights as a lightweight, boasting a record of three wins, three losses, and two draws. His career included one knock-out victory, and he experienced two knock-outs himself. The bout against fellow Tanzanian professional Elias at Dunia Ndogo Hall in Tandale, Dar-Es-Salaam, marked his fourth fight of 2024. His entire career had been fought on Tanzanian soil.
Nsajigwa Mwangamilo, the acting secretary general of the Tanzania Professional Boxing Regulatory Commission (TPBRC), confirmed that Mgaya was laid to rest on New Year's Day in Vingunguti, Dar-Es-Salaam. This marks the second recent death of a Tanzanian boxer following a match, after Abbasi Mselem tragically died in November post being knocked out during his fight in Zanzibar.
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