Tragic Passing of Boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju
In a heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves through the boxing community, light-heavyweight boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju from Nigeria has tragically passed away following a bout. Olanrewaju collapsed during an eight-round match against his opponent, Jon Mbanugu, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Ghana.
According to reports from TMZ, the incident occurred when Olanrewaju fell back into the ropes without any apparent contact from Mbanugu. The referee, Richard Amevi, promptly halted the match, and immediate medical assistance was rendered by the ringside physician and emergency medical services (EMS), who administered CPR in a desperate attempt to revive him.
Despite the swift actions taken, Olanrewaju was transported to a local hospital, where, tragically, he was pronounced dead approximately thirty minutes later. The news has left the boxing world mourning the loss of a promising athlete.
Remi Aboderin, the general secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, expressed the board’s devastation, stating, “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.”
Before the bout, Olanrewaju had been confirmed medically fit and approved to compete against Mbanugu by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBC). His professional boxing career began in 2019, and he fought primarily in Nigeria and Russia, with his final match taking place in Ghana.
Olanrewaju’s record stood at 13 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws, with an impressive 12 of his 13 victories coming by way of knockout. He also held the title of West African light-heavyweight champion, making his passing all the more poignant.
This incident marks the second tragedy in the sport of boxing this year, following the untimely passing of Irish boxer John Cooney in February, just a week after his fight with Nathan Howells.