Emmanuel OchayiThe boxing world is mourning Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, a Nigerian boxer who collapsed and died during a match in Ghana. The tragic incident happened at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Olanrewaju was fighting against Ghanaian boxer, John Mbagunu, when he suddenly fell in the ring.
The late Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, died fighting for N3 million,
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Fight That Ended in Tragedy
The Nigerian boxer, aged 40, was competing in an undercard bout in Ghana’s Professional Boxing League when he collapsed. The match was expected to be a tough contest, but no one anticipated the tragic outcome. Medical personnel rushed to the ring, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. His passing has left the boxing community in shock.
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Gabriel Olanrewaju’s Boxing Journey
Gabriel Olanrewaju, also known as “Success,” began his professional boxing career in 2019. He made a strong start, winning his debut fight against Jimoh Najeem on July 30, 2019. He built on this success by securing two more victories early in his career.
Olanrewaju gained recognition at GOtv Boxing Night 20, where he defeated Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu. His victories continued at GOtv Boxing Night 22 and 23, defeating Timothy “Nsiefinagajie” Gonze and Fatai “Hit Man” Balogun. He later won fights against David “Awosika Cosmos” and Victor Bennett at GOtv Boxing Night 24 and 25.
International Fight and Setbacks
Despite his strong start, the Nigerian boxer faced tough challenges in his career. He lost a major fight for the Vacant WBA Asia super-middleweight title against Russian boxer Ibragim Estemirov in Moscow. This marked the beginning of a series of difficult fights for Olanrewaju.
His professional record stood at 13 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws, with 12 of his wins coming by knockout. However, his later career was marked by setbacks. He suffered a four-fight losing streak, with defeats to Russia’s Savely Sadoma, Ibragim Estemirov, Muibi Lekan, and Rashid Idowu.
Tough Fights Outside Nigeria
The Nigerian boxer struggled in fights outside his home country. Records show that he lost all his international bouts, with six defeats in Russia and two losses in Nigeria. Despite these challenges, Olanrewaju remained active in the boxing scene, hoping to revive his career.
A Heartbreaking End in Ghana
Gabriel Olanrewaju’s death has left a huge gap in the boxing world. His sudden collapse in the ring has raised concerns about the health risks faced by professional boxers. He was known for his determination and passion for the sport, making his death even more tragic.
Lamenting the unfortunate incident, the Secretary General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Remi Aboderin, said Olanrewaju was given the licence to fight in Ghana on Friday, but the bout was delayed to Saturday by the organisers.
The Nigerian boxer’s passing has led to an outpouring of tributes from the boxing community. Many have called for better safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. His legacy as a fighter who gave his all in the ring will not be forgotten.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
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