Shocking scenes as boxer collapses after loss at fight night in Sydney

There were scary scenes at a recent Sydney boxing event after a fighter collapsed in the ring following a loss. Content warning: graphic images and video.

The Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales will look into a shocking post-fight incident that saw a boxer collapse and appear to suffer a convulsion in the ring after a fight in Sydney last week.

Kazeem ‘The African Dream’ Soyoye was knocked down by Jye Lane Taylor in the ninth round of their evenly-contested 10-round super-featherweight main event at Bella Vista Hotel on August 1.

The Nigerian-born Soyoyoe beat the count and wanted to continue, but was clearly dazed and the referee stopped the bout.

Kazeem Soyoye collapses after his loss. Picture: Supplied

Taylor (back) watches on in fear. Picture: Supplied

Soyoe was helped onto a stool in his corner, but two minutes later when he stood up, he fell back to the canvas.

Video footage shows the fighter trying to get back to his feet, before rolling onto his stomach and appearing to have a convulsion while a man yells for someone to call an ambulance.

The ringside doctor assists Soyoye, and corner men pour water on him and remove his boxing boots as the gravity of the situation becomes apparent.

“I thought he was dying,” said one witness who didn’t want to be named. “There didn’t seem to be anyone in control of the situation.”

As Soyoye struggled, Taylor was announced as the winner and was inexplicably asked to conduct a post-fight interview.

At one point, a man poured water from a bottle into his hand and threw it on Soyoye’s face.

Finally, after six worrying minutes, Soyoye stood up gingerly, and said, “I’m ok, I’m ok”.

The 31-year-old was eventually taken to hospital in an ambulance.

He had scans there overnight on Thursday and remained under observation until Saturday, when he flew back to his home in Perth.

“A 31-year-old male boxer was transported to hospital following a contest on Thursday, 1 August 2024 at Bella Vista Hotel,” Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales said in a statement to this masthead.

“The contest was stopped by the referee in the ninth round with the boxer losing by technical knockout.

A man throws water in Soyoye’s face. Picture: Supplied

Soyoye is finally able to get back to his feet. Picture: Supplied

“Following the end of the contest, the boxer collapsed and was assessed by the ringside doctor.

“The boxer was then transported to hospital by ambulance where he was later released.

“A Combat Sports Inspector attended the contest and will be preparing a report.”

Soyoye’s manager, Tony Tolj, said the worrying scene was a result of dehydration after his weight cut to super-featherweight (130-pounds).

Soyoye has previously fought at lightweight (135-pounds) and won the West Australian lightweight title in 2022.

A support worker in Perth, Soyoye didn’t want to go on the record when speaking to this masthead on Monday morning but said he felt healthy and happy.

Soyoye represented Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, and turned pro the following year.

Last week’s fight was his first outside Perth, with the 31-year-old currently boasting an 8-2 record.

Originally published as Shocking scenes as boxer collapses after loss at fight night in Sydney