Hamzah Aljahmi

DEARBORN — Yemeni American boxer Hamzah Aljahmi wanted to be a world champion. But his life and dreams ended tragically after his first professional fight. He died Tuesday of head injuries he sustained in a match Saturday, Dec. 19.

He was 19-years-old.

Aljahmi, who was born and raised in Dearborn, was fighting in Youngstown, Ohio. Local TV channel WKBN reported that he was able to finish the match but collapsed at the end of the final round.

He was rushed to the hospital were he remained in a coma.

His goal was to be the next Muhammad Ali,” said Ibrahim Aljahim, the late boxer’s cousin. “Everybody in school loved him. Everybody in the community loved him.”

Aljahim, a Hamtramck activist, described Aljahmi as popular but humble.

Aljahmi was the oldest of seven. He had five sisters and one brother, according to his cousin.

A video of the fight shows the 19-year-old taking repeated punches to the head by his opponent, Anthony Taylor of Warren.

Aljahmi attended Fordson High School.

“He always wanted to box; that was his dream,” said Mohamad, a former classmate. “He was a good kid.”

Ali Baleed Almaklani, the executive director of the Yemen American Benevolent Association (YABA), said Aljahmi’s death is a great loss to the community.

“He was kind and respected,” Almaklani hailed the late young man. “Everybody is stricken by his death. We wish healing to his family and friends.”

Aljahimi was active on social media, where he frequently posted about his aspirations in the boxing world. 

On Instagram, he described himself as a future businessman and a good Muslim.

“You all laugh cuz I’m different,” his profile bio reads. “I laugh because you are all the same.”