The coach of murdered boxing champion James Oyebola believes justice has been done after his killer was sentenced to life in prison.

Kanyanta Mulenga was last week ordered to serve at least 28 years in prison for murdering Mr Oyebola, 46, of Portnall Road. Mr Oyebola was shot in the back of the head at Chateau 6 nightclub in Fulham Road, Fulham, following a row about smoking in July 2007.

Isola Akay (pictured), 73, of All Stars Boxing Gym, in Harrow Road, built up a close friendship with Mr Oyebola during the six years he trained him.

He said: "Justice has been done but no amount of imprisonment will ever bring James back. It has given me some consolation, but only for a short period. His death has left an empty space, and I feel very, very sad.

"James was like a son to me, it was such a shock when he died. It doesn't seem fair that he died so young and just for asking someone to stop smoking."

Mr Akay added that Mr Oyebola would often come round to his house, also in Portnall Road, after boxing training at the gym.

He said: "We would just talk about boxing or watch videos. He was always very respectful and he called me 'coach', never my first name.  He was 6ft 9in but a gentle giant, and never threw his weight or strength around except in the boxing ring."

Mr Oyebola won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1986, after losing to Lennox Lewis in the semi-final. Mulenga, 23, of Tildesley Road, Putney, was charged with the murder in September 2007.