Hassan Mgaya, a 29-year-old professional boxer from Tanzania, passed away on December 30, 2024, following injuries sustained during a lightweight bout against fellow countryman Paul Elias. The match took place at Dunia Ndogo Hall in Tandale, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, on December 27.
Mgaya collapsed in the fifth round after receiving several head blows that rendered him unconscious. First aid was administered in the ring, and reports indicate he had bitten his tongue during the incident, causing it to go down his throat.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and boxing stakeholders in the country,” said Nsajigwa Mwangamilo, the Tanzania Professional Boxing Regulatory Commission’s acting secretary.
Initially taken to Palestine Hospital in Sinza, Tanzania, Mgaya was later transferred to Mwananyamala Hospital. His condition deteriorated in the subsequent days, leading to a final transfer to Muhimbili National Hospital, where he spent his final moments.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) acknowledged the loss in an official statement: “Tanzanian professional boxer Hassan Mgaya passed away on December 30, 2024, from injuries resulting from a knockout he received on December 27. The entire WBC family and President Mauricio Sulaiman send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our beloved champion. Rest in Peace.”
Throughout his professional career, Mgaya compiled a record of three wins, three losses, and two draws. His arsenal included one knockout victory, while he experienced two knockout losses, including his final bout. The fight against Elias marked his fourth appearance in the ring during 2024, with all his professional matches taking place in Tanzania.
The Tanzania Professional Boxing Regulatory Commission confirmed that the bout was organized by a registered promoter who had followed all required regulations. Mgaya was laid to rest on New Year’s Day in Vingunguti, Dar-Es-Salaam.
His passing marks the second loss for the Tanzanian boxing community in recent months, following the death of Abbasi Mselem in November 2024. Mselem also succumbed to injuries after being knocked out in Zanzibar.
Mgaya’s death also followed the recent death of Paul Bamba, a Puerto Rican fighter who died at the age of 35.
The announcement of Bamba’s passing was made by his manager, musician Ne-Yo, on December 27. In a message shared on Instagram, the American singer and songwriter referred to him as a remarkable person.
“It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the death of our cherished son, brother, friend, and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and love impacted so many.”
This announcement followed just six days after Bamba’s latest match, where he secured a sixth-round victory against Rogelio Medina Luna at the Carteret Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. This win marked Bamba’s 19th career victory, earning him the WBA Gold cruiserweight title during his 14th fight of 2024. His journey began earlier this year with a second-round knockout of Guillermo Ponce in Colombia. Bamba has also competed in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the United States this year.
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, Bamba, who is ranked 12th by the WBA, had challenged Jake Paul for a potential upcoming match following his triumph over Medina.
In a post-fight message on Instagram, Bamba expressed, “This year I set a goal and accomplished it! It wasn’t easy; I faced numerous hurdles, but I adapted, persevered, and stayed on course despite various challenges.”
The reason behind Bamba’s premature death has not been disclosed. However, just a few weeks before his passing, Bamba expressed that his time in the boxing ring had significantly affected his physical health, especially his brain.
After being targeted by an online troll on X, he shared details of the brain damage he incurred during his Misfits Boxing match against ex-UFC fighter Chris Avila in April 2021. He mentioned that fighting Avila while dealing with a concussion and rapidly shedding 22 pounds in just three days resulted in some brain damage.
