Nigerian boxer Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, 40, has died after collapsing during a professional fight at Ghana’s Bukom Boxing Arena on March 29.
The former national and West African light-heavyweight champion collapsed suddenly while facing Ghanaian opponent John “Power” Mbanugu in an undercard bout of Ghana’s Professional Boxing League. The incident occurred with just 15 seconds remaining in the third round of their scheduled eight-round contest. Reports indicate that he was ahead on points before the unfortunate incident occurred.
Video footage shared on social media showed both boxers exchanging punches intensely before Olanrewaju stumbled and fell to the canvas. The referee immediately called for medical assistance, but despite emergency efforts to revive him, the boxer was pronounced dead 30 minutes after he was rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where he was confirmed dead. Early reports suggest he may have suffered cardiac arrest.
The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) confirmed Olanrewaju’s death in an official statement, noting he had been “medically fit” according to certification from the Nigeria Boxing Board Control before the fight’s approval.
“The Ghana Boxing Authority is seriously mourning the demise of a potential world beater who was dictating a beautiful fight and all of a sudden visited the canvas and fell into what has been described as an induced coma,” the statement read, adding that an official cause of death would be determined after autopsy.
Olanrewaju, born in Lagos, had a professional record of 13 wins (12 by knockout), 8 losses, and 2 draws in his 23-fight career, according to BoxRec. He had been struggling recently, suffering four consecutive defeats before his final bout, including a loss to Idowu Rasheed at Lagos’ Campos Mini Stadium on December 24, 2024.
The GBA extended condolences to the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) and boxing enthusiasts worldwide.
Authorities Exchange Blame
Meanwhile, Nigerian and Ghanaian boxing authorities have locked horns over the circumstances surrounding Olanrewaju’s death, with both bodies giving conflicting accounts regarding the fighter’s medical clearance before his fatal bout in Accra.
Chairman of the NBBofC, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, expressed outrage over the incident, questioning the medical protocols followed by Ghanaian authorities.
“It was devastating and we in Nigeria have been thrown into mourning. How can a former Nigerian champion go for a fight in Ghana and die in the ring?” Ladipo said. “The rule of the game is that 24 hours before a fight, you must do your medical and weigh-in, and the weigh-in was done but medical was not done and the medical is the most important aspect.”
However, GBA spokesperson Amin Lamptey defended their procedures, claiming all necessary protocols were followed.
“What happened is very sad and all of us here commiserate with his family,” Lamptey told The PUNCH. “For a fight in Ghana, we need to make a health report which we also crosscheck with our in-house doctor and before the fight, they have to be checked… those processes were undertaken.”
Medical Procedures Questioned
NBBofC Secretary General Remi Aboderin countered the GBA’s claims, stating there was no formal invitation between the boxing authorities.
“In this case, there was no invitation to the NBBofC from Ghana. The boxer got a contract from the promoter from Ghana, he then came to the board to show us. We read the contract paper, saw the date, and we gave him a release permit based on that,” Aboderin explained.
“It is a must for the local commission, in this case, the GBA to provide the medical fee to do medicals on the day of weigh-in and I am made to understand that no medical was done on Thursday, yet they had the weigh-in.”
Coach Austin Okporu, who accompanied another Nigerian boxer to Ghana, corroborated the NBBofC’s concerns: “Even me and the boxer that went for the fight, no medical was done before our fight. I even asked them, ‘Where are the medical personnel for the fight?’. It is only a weigh-in and then they fight.”
According to World Boxing Federation (WBF) medical guidelines, a pre-contest medical examination should be conducted immediately before the weigh-in, with additional post-contest checks for each fighter.
The NBBofC has announced a two-week suspension of all professional boxing activities in Nigeria as a mark of respect for the deceased fighter.
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