The boxing community is mourning the sudden death of Nigerian fighter Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who tragically collapsed and died during a bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday night.
Olanrewaju was facing Ghanaian boxer John Mbanugu, known as “Power,” in an undercard match of Ghana’s Professional Boxing League when the shocking incident occurred.
According to reports from Ghanaian media outlet Yen.com, Olanrewaju lost balance mid-fight and collapsed, prompting the referee to halt the match and summon medical personnel. Despite swift efforts to revive him, the 40-year-old was later pronounced dead, with early indications suggesting cardiac arrest as the cause.
A now-viral video of the fight shows both boxers exchanging punches before Olanrewaju suddenly staggered and fell, hitting his head on the canvas. Initially, officials assumed it was a routine knockdown and began the standard count, only to realize it was a medical emergency.
Doctors rushed to his aid, but their attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
This heartbreaking incident echoes a similar tragedy in May last year when London-based Nigerian boxer Sherif Lawal collapsed and died in the ring during a fight in Ghana.
Records from BoxRec indicate that Olanrewaju had an extensive professional career, participating in 23 fights, securing 13 victories (12 by knockout), suffering eight defeats, and recording two draws. However, he had struggled in recent years, losing four consecutive bouts before this ill-fated match. His last recorded fight took place on December 24, 2023, at Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria.
