Latest news with #GhanaBoxingAuthority
Fox News
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Nigerian boxer suddenly dies after collapsing mid-fight: 'Unpredictable nature of the sport'
Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, a professional boxer from Nigeria, died suddenly over the weekend after he collapsed in the third round of a light-heavyweight fight in Ghana, according to officials. Oluwasegun tragically died Saturday at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, located in the capital of Accra, after he collapsed less than halfway through his eight-round bout against Ghana's Jon Mbanugu, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) said in a statement. Oluwasegun was dominating the fight, but began to falter in the third, according to officials. Just under three minutes into the round, Oluwasegun stepped back from his opponent and fell backward onto the ropes. The GBA said Mbanugu did not hit Oluwasegun directly before he collapsed in the ring. Video of the fight shared on social media supported this. Oluwasegun appeared unconscious as the referee waved over for help. According to the statement from the GBA, the ringside physician and paramedics attempted to resuscitate Oluwasegun on the scene before he was transported to the hospital, "where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes after arrival." No cause of death has been revealed, but the GBA described the situation as an "induced coma" in its statement. The World Boxing organization also released a statement calling for "the urgent need for rigorous testing protocols to ensure the health and safety of our fighters." The GBA said Oluwasegun was "declared medically fit by the Nigeria Boxing Board Control (NBBC)" prior to the fight. "It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I, on behalf of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Government of Ghana, extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who tragically passed away following his contest at the Bukom Boxing Arena," Kofi Iddie Adams, the minister of sports and recreation in Ghana, said in a press release. "We deeply empathize with the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBC), the entire Nigerian boxing fraternity, and the global boxing community over this irreplaceable loss. Gabriel's untimely departure not only deprives boxing of an admirable competitor but also reminds us of the unpredictable nature of the sport we passionately love." Adams said the ministry and the GBA will work with officials in the investigation into Oluwasegun's sudden death. The 40-year-old boxer entered the fight with a 13-8 record, with 12 of those wins by knockout. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
CBS News
01-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Nigerian boxer dies after collapsing during light heavyweight fight
A Nigerian boxer died Saturday after collapsing during a light heavyweight fight in Ghana, officials announced this week. Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju was pronounced dead at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, the capital, following the professional fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu in which Oluwasegun lost consciousness, the Ghana Boxing Authority said in a statement . Oluwasegun appeared to dominate his opponent until the third round, when he collapsed despite not being hit, the authority said. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the boxer before taking him to the hospital, and he was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later. The boxing authority said it "is seriously mourning the demise of a potential world beater who was dictating a beautiful fight and all of a sudden ... fell into what has been described as an induced coma even though an official cause of death is yet to be made available after autopsy." Oluwasegun had been declared "medically fit" for the fight by the Nigeria Boxing Board Control before the Ghana Boxing Authority cleared him to participate, according to the Ghanaian organization. The boxer's official record prior to Saturday included 23 fights, with 13 victories and eight defeats. He was a former national and West African champion in his weight class, BBC Sport reported . Remi Aboderin, the general secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board Control, described Oluwasegun as "fearless" and a "ring warrior" in comments to BBC Sport Africa. "We are really devastated," Aboderin said. "[This] is not something we envisaged. We will live up to our responsibility and make sure that we stand [by] the family." At least six other boxers have died from injuries they suffered in the ring since February 2024. In February, Irish boxer John Cooney died in intensive care one week after a super featherweight fight in Belfast, which left him with an intracranial hemorrhage. And, in Novemer, Fiji boxer Ubayd Haider died after collapsing in a super featherweight fight in New Zealand.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nigerian boxer dies after collapsing mid-bout
Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju has died after collapsing during a light heavyweight bout in Ghana on a former national and West African champion in his weight class, lost consciousness in the third round of his Ghana Professional Boxing League fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) confirmed the news of his death, stating that, after receiving first aid, he was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes after general secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Remi Aboderin, described Oluwasegun as a "fearless" fighter who died a "ring warrior"."We are really devastated," Aboderin told BBC Sport Africa."[This] is not something we envisaged. We will live up to our responsibility and make sure that we stand [by] the family."Oluwasegun had an official record of 23 fights, with 13 victories and eight defeats, before his bout with Mbanugu.
