Nigerian and Ghanaian boxing authorities are at odds over the events leading to the tragic death of former Nigerian boxing champion Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju. The two bodies have provided conflicting reports regarding the fighter’s medical clearance prior to his fatal bout in Accra.
Olanrewaju, 40, a former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, collapsed in the ring during a match against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday. He was later pronounced dead at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, Chairman of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), expressed his anger over the incident, questioning Ghanaian authorities’ adherence to medical protocols.
“It was devastating, and we in Nigeria are mourning. How can a former Nigerian champion go to Ghana for a fight and die in the ring? We demand that the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) explain the circumstances surrounding his death because he was cleared by the NBBofC to fight there on Friday,” Ladipo stated.
He stressed the importance of medical checks, emphasizing that “the rule of the game is that 24 hours before a fight, a medical and weigh-in must be done. The weigh-in happened, but no medical was conducted, and that is the most crucial aspect.”
Amin Lamptey, spokesperson for the GBA, defended their procedures, stating that all required protocols were followed.
“What happened is very sad, and we all sympathize with his family,” Lamptey told The PUNCH. “He was scheduled to fight on Friday, but the fight was delayed. The promotion and GBA coordinated, and he was added to the next fight’s undercard. His records and medical history were already on file, and before the fight, he underwent the required checks, including crosschecking with our in-house doctor.”
However, Remi Aboderin, Secretary-General of the NBBofC, disputed this, claiming that there was no invitation from Ghana for Olanrewaju to fight. According to Aboderin, the boxer had secured a contract directly with the promoter in Ghana and presented it to the NBBofC, which then issued a release permit.
On March 24, Olanrewaju contacted Aboderin about the fight, and a release letter was issued. Aboderin noted that the Ghanaian organizers were responsible for arranging the medical tests, which he claims were not conducted despite the weigh-in.
WBF medical guidelines mandate that a pre-contest medical examination must take place immediately before the weigh-in, with additional post-contest checks for each fighter.
Coach Austin Okporu, who accompanied another Nigerian boxer to Ghana, echoed the NBBofC’s concerns about the lack of medical testing.
“Even I and the other boxer didn’t have a medical done before our fight. I asked them, ‘Where are the medical personnel?’ It was just the weigh-in, and then the fight,” Okporu said.
As a result of the incident, the NBBofC has announced a two-week suspension of all professional boxing activities in Nigeria to honor Olanrewaju’s memory.
