Lawrence Gabriel is declared the winner of a boxing match on February 27, 2016. Photo from Italia Fight Gear / Facebook

Lawrence Gabriel, a member of the Onondaga Nation of New York, won his debut professional boxing match on Saturday after overcoming a huge obstacle.

Gabriel's first match was supposed to take place a year ago. But he never stepped into the ring because he was critically wounded on February 1, 2015, when he subdued a gunman who shot a total of six people, including his cousin and his best friend, at a bar in Syracuse.

"I thought I was dead," Gabriel told The Syracuse Post-Standard a year ago. "I honestly thought he was just gonna stand over me and shoot me, shoot me in the head."

But Gabriel pulled through despite suffering serious injuries. He competed in the Searching for the Next Champion V event in Liverpool and defeated his rival by unanimous decision.

"I definitely have to thank, like, the doctors and medical personnel and everybody that's helped me setup like a fundraisers, everybody that's done all that stuff for me," Gabriel told CNY Central. "I can't even explain how much that means to me."

The alleged shooter, Michael Morris, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and four counts of assault. His trial has been delayed due to questions about his mental competency, The Syracuse Post-Standard reported.

Get the Story:
Hero who tackled bar shooter makes pro boxing debut (CNY Central 2/29)
Potter outlasts Tuba again (FightNews.Com 2/28)

Earlier Stories:
Hero of McAvan's Pub shooting spree, Lawrence Gabriel, tells his story: 'I thought I was dead' (The Syracuse Post-Standard 2/28)
McAvan's Pub hero, Lawrence Gabriel, takes first steps since being shot (The Syracuse Post-Standard 2/7)
Hero of McAvan's Pub mass shooting: Now bouncer needs a hand (The Syracuse Post-Standard 2/3)