Nigerian professional boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju tragically passed away over the weekend … after the light heavyweight fighter collapsed during an eight-round bout.
The Ghana Boxing Authority confirmed the death of the 13-8 boxer … stating during the third round of the match, Olanrewaju fell back into the ropes without any contact from his opponent, 12-1 Ghanaian fighter Jon Mbanugu.
Referee Richard Amevi immediately stopped the fight when he realized something was wrong with Olanrewaju … and the ringside physician and EMS administered aid, including CPR.
Olanrewaju was transported from the Bukom Boxing Arena to a local hospital where he died 30 minutes later.
“We are really devastated,” said Remi Aboderin, the general secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control.
“[This] is not something we envisaged. We will live up to our responsibility and make sure that we stand [by] the family.”
Olanrewaju was confirmed medically fit and approved to fight Mbanugu by the NBBC prior to the event.
Olanrewaju, a 6’1″ orthodox fighter, began his pro boxing career in 2019 and won several fights, including the West African Boxing Union light heavyweight title after a knockout win over Simon Olayinka in 2023.
