Nigerian boxer and former West African Light Heavyweight Champion, Gabriel Olanrewaju, has died after collapsing during a fight in Ghana.
According to multiple Ghanaian news reports, the 40-year-old Nigerian boxer was competing against John Mbagunu, known as “Power”, at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, March 29, 2025, when he suddenly collapsed in the ring.
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A tragic night in Accra
Olanrewaju was fighting in an undercard bout in Ghana’s Professional Boxing League when the heartbreaking incident occurred. During the match, he suddenly fell to the canvas, prompting the referee to immediately call for medical assistance. Initially, officials assumed it was a standard knockdown, but it soon became evident that he was in distress.
Despite urgent efforts from medical staff, Olanrewaju was later pronounced dead, with reports suggesting he may have suffered a cardiac arrest.
A storied career cut short
Olanrewaju was born in Lagos and had a professional record of 23 fights, securing 13 victories—12 by knockout, according to BoxRec. However, he had been struggling in recent years, losing his last four consecutive fights before this tragic event.
This is not the first time Nigerian boxing has suffered such a loss. In 2022, boxer Chukwuemeka Igboanugo also tragically passed away after suffering a technical knockout (TKO) during a bout at the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Delta. Igboanugo succumbed to injuries after receiving a fatal blow to the nose.
The boxing community in Nigeria and across Africa is mourning the loss of Olanrewaju, a fighter who gave his all to the sport.
