Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju has tragically passed away after collapsing mid-way through a fight in Ghana.
Olanrewaju (13-8-1) met Jon Mbanugu (12-1-1) in an eight-round light heavyweight bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena in the country’s capital of Accra, on Friday.
The Nigerian fighter lost consciousness in the third round and received medical attention in the ring before being rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes after arrival.
Local reports claim he was 40 years old.
A statement from the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) read: “Oluwasegun was declared medically fit by the Nigeria Boxing Board Control with his certification as a professional boxer before the GBA sanctioned and approved the international contest.
“Oluwasegun, a few seconds before the end of round three, stepped back during the fight and leaned on the ropes with his back without any punch whatsoever from his opponent.
“The referee, Richard Amevi, sensing danger, waved his hand for the end of the fight and immediately invited the ringside physician, with the support of paramedics from the national ambulance service, to attend to the boxer to help resuscitate him.
“The GBA President reported the incident to the Korle Bu Police Station.
“The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, was formally informed by the GBA President of the unfortunate incident.”
The general secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Remi Aboderin, told the BBC: “We are really devastated.
“[This] is not something we envisaged.
“We will live up to our responsibility and make sure that we stand [by] the family.”
Olanrewaju was a former Nigerian and West African light heavyweight championOlanrewaju made his professional debut in July 2019.
The 6ft 1in boxer won his first three fights before suffering defeat at the hands of 2008 Olympian Olanrewaju Durodola in an African Boxing Union African cruiserweight title fight.
He then rebounded with a five-fight knockout streak en route to stopping David Cosmos for the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control Nigerian light heavyweight belt in 2021.
Olanrewaju continued to trade wins and losses with varying levels of opposition before picking up the West African Boxing Union (WABU) light heavyweight title with a knockout win over Simon Olayinka two years ago.
After picking up the WABU strap, Olanrewaju went on a five-fight winless streak, during which time he dropped his belt to Muibi Lekan on points.
He fell to another points loss against Idowu Rasheed in his penultimate fight, three months before his tragic contest with Mbanugu.
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