Mylik Birdsong, a welterweight prospect who recently won a regional title, was shot and killed in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.
Birdsong (15-1-1, 10 KOs), a Los Angeles native, was 31. He was scheduled to fight Gor Yeritsyan on Oct. 26 at the Commerce Casino in nearby Commerce in a compelling clash of once-beaten welterweights . The fight would be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
Tom Loeffler, head of 360 Boxing Promotions and the promoter of the October 26 card, was saddened to hear of Birdsong’s passing.
“We were excited to announce the return of Gor Yeritsyan at our Oct. 26 show at Commerce Casino,” Loeffler told The Ring late Sunday night. “He would be in a big game against Mylik Birdsong. Unfortunately, we have just received the tragic news that Mylik has been killed. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We will definitely honor Mylik with an (honorary) 10 score at our show.”
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, in a statement to KTLA5, the shooting happened near the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles around 4:50 p.m. Birdsong was standing next to a car talking to his girlfriend, who was sitting inside, when a dark-colored SUV pulled up and opened fire on him. Birdsong was hit, ran to a driveway of a house, where he was hit again by gunfire from two men who were chasing him.
Birdsong, who was hit a total of seven times in the torso. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An investigation, including a motive, is ongoing.
Birdsong last fought March 23 at Saint John Bosco High School in nearby Bellflower, defeating Jerry Bradford by unanimous decision. With the win, Bradford won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Welterweight title.
In his previous fight on November 11, Birdsong was knocked out by Jose Vargas Quintana in a clash of undefeated prospects.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at (email protected)
