Aspiring boxer Shahril “The Bull” Salim dies at 23

Aspiring local boxer Shahril “The Bull” Salim died on Thursday, Nov. 27. 

The budding athlete was scheduled to make his professional debut at Marina Bay Sands in 2012 when a serious training injury left him in a coma. Thousands of people rallied around him when his friends and family launched the Wake the Bull Project, which aimed to contribute to the 23-year-old’s medical costs. 

A few months after the injury, Shahril regained consciousness and was slowly able to communicate with his family again. His indomitable heart shone brightly in this trying time and he started to make some progress. Although Shahril’s brain injury was severe, he never gave up the battle. He was always optimistic and regularly expressed his ambitions and dreams for the future. It was an indescribably dim moment when his family announced he’d succumbed to the condition. 

Shahril Salim was a fighter. In the ring, he was a talented boxer, earning the nickname “The Bull” for his imposing style. But his fighting spirit went far beyond the ring, capturing the hearts of the people around him. He looked ahead despite being bedridden, and expressed his desire to walk again even when the odds seemed to be stacked heavily against him. 

He personified the words of boxing legend Jack Dempsey: “A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.”

The career of a boxer is often compared to a firework. It is loud, eye-catching, and wonderful to watch. However, it disappears quickly in order to make way for another one to launch. Some last longer than others and some get obscured by their brighter counterparts. Every now and then though, you get a boxer who inspires people and makes them see the best qualities a human can possess. That’s when they no longer remain a mere firework, but become a guiding light.

Shahril Salim was not able to make his debut, but he displayed more power and determination than anyone could in a ring. Shahril will be a beacon for Singaporean boxers – a shining example of what it takes to be a champion in boxing and in life.