Chisora’s nephew did something wrong
Jermaine Dhliwayo paid an emotional tribute to his grieving gym-mate Sherif Lawal after his victory in his professional debut.
In May, 29-year-old Lawal died after a brutal knockout defeat in the opening round of his professional career at Harrow Leisure Centre.
Dhliwayo, the 22-year-old nephew of British boxing legend Derek Chisora, was ringside that evening watching his St Pancras clubmate lose and was left shocked by the defeat.
But, when he spoke to SunSport ahead of the undercard kick-off to the fight between his uncle and Joe Joyce, he vowed Lawal would be with him in the ring when he takes his first steps in this brutal business.
And, after winning all four rounds of his O2 baptism, he raised a Queens Park Rangers shirt emblazoned with Lawal’s name to ensure the British boxing world remembered its latest hero.
Oleksandr Usyk makes shocking career change… Boxing champ reveals private DM with Tyson Fury ahead of rematchAt the weigh-in on Friday, Dhliwayo told us: “Sheriff was very excited about my debut and fame.
“When I step into the ring on Saturday – or any other time in my life – he will be with me.
“Everything he taught me, I will take with me and he will always be in that ring, with me, in my heart.
“When the incident happened, my uncle Derek took charge of the situation because we were all terrified.
“He came to the hospital and personally went and notified Sheriff’s mother and tried to help.
“He doesn’t talk about that side of his life, so people usually don’t see it or know about it.
I gave up my Paris 2024 Olympics dream to be with my dying father… I’ve turned professional and want to fight Usyk for a Fury rematch“But we will work hard to make sure his family is okay and that the sheriff is remembered.”
