Tanzanian professional boxer Hassan Mgaya, aged 29, has passed away on December 30, following injuries sustained during a professional bout on December 27 at the Dunia Ndogo Hall in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania’s former capital.
The incident occurred during the fifth round of Mgaya’s match against fellow Tanzanian Paul Elias. After receiving multiple strikes to the head, Mgaya lost consciousness and experienced an airway obstruction that impeded his breathing. Medical staff immediately provided first aid in the ring before transferring him to Sinza Palestine Hospital.
Due to the severity of his condition, Mgaya was subsequently moved to Mwananyamala Hospital. As his condition deteriorated on December 28, he was transferred to Muhimbili National Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Lightweight boxer Hassan Mgaya passed away after a bout that earned him a mere $25 purse, highlighting the dire conditions faced by athletes in developing nations. The Tanzanian was promised 60,000 shillings, equivalent to $24.38, for the bout against Paul Elias, but it remains unclear if this amount was ever paid as per worldboxingnews. The incident, revealed during Mgaya’s January 2 burial, underscores systemic failures in boxing governance, with calls for greater transparency in contracts and financial support from global boxing organizations. Critics decry the exploitation of athletes, demanding reforms to ensure boxers are adequately compensated for risking their lives in the ring.
Mgaya, who held a professional record of 3-4-2, was competing in his fourth match of the year. The bout against Elias marked his second loss by stoppage in his career.
This marks the second such tragedy in Tanzanian boxing within a brief period, following the death of Abbasi Mselem in November 2024 after a match in Zanzibar.
Nsajigwa Mwangamilo, the acting secretary of the Tanzania Boxing Commission, expressed his condolences: “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and those involved in boxing in the country.”
The Tanzania Boxers Association has stated that the event had met all required safety protocols.
