Nigerian boxer, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju tragically lost his life after collapsing in the ring during a fight in Ghana on Saturday.
The 40-year-old former National and West African light-heavyweight champion was fighting against Ghanaian boxer, Jon Mbanugu in Accra, when he suddenly lost consciousness.
Fighting to Survive – The Desperate Decision That Led to His Death
Olanrewaju was initially scheduled to fight on Friday, but the bout was canceled after he was found to be overweight.
The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) had granted him approval for the Friday fight but did not authorize the Saturday bout.
However, facing financial hardship and mounting debts, Olanrewaju made a desperate decision to fight the following day without approval, hoping to earn money for his survival.
Secretary-General of the NBBC, Remi Aboderin, revealed that the late boxer had been determined to fight despite the initial cancellation.
“Segun got our approval to fight in Ghana, a fight that was proposed to take place on a Friday.”
“Unfortunately, they did weigh-in on Thursday and he was found to be overweight and they told him the person he was to fight was not his weight.”
“They said to do this, they would increase his purse with another $500, which he said was too small, and due to that, there was no agreement.”
Another Nigerian boxer fought that Friday night, while Olanrewaju and his team began their journey back to Nigeria the next morning.
However, on their way back, Olanrewaju made a fateful decision that cost him his life.
“Saturday morning, they were on their way back to Lagos, they had even left Accra and were at Aflao border when Segun said to the coach that followed him, that’s Diran Alamu, that it was not going to be easy to call the Ghanaians and see if another fight was coming up and told them he was now ready to collect the additional $500 as discussed because he felt it would not pay him if he returned home without money.”
“So, they called the matchmaker, who informed him that there was a fight on Saturday night and that they could put the fight for that Saturday, but we didn’t give him the approval for that, and this is where the GBA (Ghana Boxing Association) erred.”
“So, he turned back and went back to Ghana because he needed the money; he owed a lot of people money.”
Despite warnings from his trainer, Coach Babatunde Ojo, Olanrewaju proceeded with the fight.
“He (Olanrewaju) told me they gave him a fight last week.”
“After he informed me, I told him, ‘the fight was at short notice, you are not training and you want to go, you can’t go, leave this fight for a better offer.’”
“He initially told me the fight was on April 1, but he called later to say it was no longer next month but on March 29.”
“So, I told him that it was at short notice but if he wanted us to go together, he should tell the organisers to book flights so we could go there and come back together.”
“He called them and when he got back to me, he said they told him they would get him a car that would take him to Ghana. I said no, that’s not possible. So, he knew I didn’t want him to go.”
“After that, he called me that they (NBBofC) had given him a release letter (for the fight). I didn’t hear from him afterwards, so I called him.”
“He said he had been called again for the fight and was going. The next time I called him, he said he was on his way (to Ghana), and he didn’t call me because he knew I wouldn’t allow him go.”
“That was why he didn’t tell me. He is an adult, so, I could not stop him.”
The Moment of Tragedy
The fateful fight began with Olanrewaju holding his own against his opponent.
He was ahead on points before disaster struck in the scheduled eight-round light-heavyweight contest.
It only took a few seconds for the officials and fans at the Bukom Boxing Arena to realize something was seriously wrong.
Olanrewaju had just landed two weak punches on Mbanugu when the Ghanaian fighter responded with a powerful right hand to his face.
He slumped moments later, he turned face down, and his team rushed into the ring, desperately attempting to revive him.
The on-site emergency medical team swiftly transported him to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
While the NBBofC maintains that it did not approve the Saturday fight, the Ghana Boxing Association’s role in allowing the bout to proceed without proper clearance is now under scrutiny.
