Fresh reports have emerged regarding the sudden death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who collapsed and died during a fight in Ghana.
According to the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Olanrewaju, a former West African Light Heavyweight Champion, died due to negligence, as he did not undergo a mandatory medical examination before his fight against Ghanaian opponent John Mbanugu at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
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NBB of C blames GBA for negligence
Remi Aboderin, secretary-general of the NBB of C, accused the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) of failing to adhere to professional boxing regulations before staging the fight.
Aboderin stated that Olanrewaju’s fight was initially scheduled for Friday, March 28, but was cancelled. However, the bout was rescheduled for the next day without the NBB of C’s approval. He also alleged that the necessary medical check-ups and the mandatory weigh-in were not conducted before the rescheduled bout.
Regulatory violations and safety concerns
“Segun went to Ghana to fight according to the contract, but the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) did not do their due diligence. They failed to conduct a medical examination and did not ensure he made weight for the fight. The date we approved for him to compete was Friday, March 28. How come he fought on the 29th?” Aboderin told TheCable.
“He died because the GBA did not follow the sport’s rules and regulations. The NBB of C approved his fight for March 28, not March 29. No medical examinations were carried out to assess his health status.”
Concerns over last-minute fight rescheduling
“This tragedy occurred because the required protocols were not followed. When the fight on Friday was cancelled due to an overweight issue, Segun had already started his journey back to Nigeria.
“He was at the border when he was contacted to return—or perhaps he changed his mind. But upon his return, no medical check-up was done, and no weigh-in took place. He must have been under immense stress.”
