World Boxing News Series Remembers Young Fighters Sakama and Egano

A six-part series began in October 2026 to remember 60 boxing tragedies. The series starts with ten involving young fighters and families.

Japanese prospect Kanamu Sakama died in March 2024 at age 20, leaving an unbeaten professional record of 9-0 with eight knockouts. Filipino prospect Kenneth Egano collapsed after completing an eight-round contest against Jason Facularin at Imus Sports Gymnasium in Cavite in May 2023 and was declared the winner but died four days later from a brain hemorrhage.

Australian featherweight Braydon “Brayd” Smith died two days after suffering a points defeat against John Vincent Moralde in Toowoomba on March 14, 2015. Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju died after losing consciousness during the third round of a light heavyweight contest against Jon Mbanugu at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on March 29, 2025.

Bobby Messett was killed by a gunman at Bray Boxing Club in Ireland on June 5, 2018. Australian boxing coach Louis Meehan was shot dead in Sydney on September 9, 2026, at age 32. Daniel, aged 61, was shot by security guard Sabelo Patrick Dlamini following a confrontation.

Sakama’s scheduled fight against Hyuga Oki at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo was canceled prior to his death. Longtime Japanese journalist Joe Koizumi suggested that Sakama took his own life following the cancellation of his fight. Japanese authorities did not publicly confirm the circumstances.

Gerard Cervi was convicted of Messett’s murder in November 2023 and sentenced to life in prison the following month. New South Wales Police described Meehan’s shooting as targeted while investigating possible links to outlaw motorcycle gangs. Dlamini was sentenced to 15 years in prison for murder on July 21, 2023.

Ghanaian authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Olanrewaju’s death and the medical procedures in place after footage of his final moments circulated on social media.

The six-part series on boxing tragedies continues in Part Two.

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