A Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, tragically passed away on Saturday after collapsing in the ring during a professional light heavyweight bout in Ghana, officials confirmed.
Shocking Collapse During Fight
Olanrewaju, who was facing Ghanaian fighter Jon Mbanugu, appeared to be in control of the fight until the third round when he suddenly lost consciousness despite not taking a direct hit, according to the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA). Medical personnel rushed to revive him before transferring him to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, where he was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later.
In a statement, the GBA described his passing as a significant loss to the sport, calling him a “potential world champion” who was dominating the fight before his unexpected collapse. An official cause of death is yet to be determined pending an autopsy.
Olanrewaju had been medically cleared for the match by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and later approved by the GBA. The 27-year-old boxer had an impressive record of 23 professional fights, with 13 wins and eight losses, and was a former national and West African champion.
Remi Aboderin, General Secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board, expressed deep sorrow over his passing, calling him a “fearless warrior” and assuring that the board would support his grieving family.
Olanrewaju’s death adds to a growing list of fatalities in professional boxing, with at least six fighters dying from in-ring injuries since February 2024. Recent tragedies include Irish boxer John Cooney, who succumbed to an intracranial hemorrhage, and Fiji’s Ubayd Haider, who collapsed in a fight last November.
This latest incident raises concerns about boxer safety and the risks associated with the sport.
