…His Boxing Career

By Amaechi Agbo

Olanrewaju collapsed during the fight

Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju has died while boxing during a bout in Ghana on Saturday

The Sporting World is mourning the tragic death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who collapsed and died during a fight at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

The 31-year-old boxer was competing against Ghanaian fighter John Mbagunu, known as “Power”, in an undercard bout of Ghana’s Professional Boxing League when the heartbreaking incident happened.

During the match, Olanrewaju suddenly fell to the canvas, prompting the referee to immediately call for medical help. Initially, the timekeeper thought it was a knockdown, but it soon became clear that something was seriously wrong.

Initially, the bellman and timekeeper counted, assuming it was a knockdown, but it quickly became clear that the situation was far more serious. The referee immediately halted the match and called for medical assistance. Despite frantic attempts by medical personnel to revive him, Olanrewaju was tragically pronounced dead shortly after the collapse, with preliminary reports suggesting cardiac arrest as the cause of death.

Despite urgent efforts by medical staff to revive him, he was later pronounced dead, with reports suggesting he may have suffered a cardiac arrest.

This tragedy brings back memories of a similar incident in May last year when London-based Nigerian boxer, Sherif Lawal, collapsed and died in the ring during a fight also in Ghana.

According to records Olanrewaju had a long professional boxing career, featuring in 23 fights. He won 13 of those bouts, with 12 coming via knockout, suffered eight defeats, and recorded two draws. However, he had struggled in recent years, losing four consecutive fights before last night’s ill-fated bout.

His most recent fight was on December 24, 2023, at Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria.

Olanrewaju’s boxing career

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olanrewaju had a remarkable boxing career, participating in 23 professional bouts. He achieved 13 wins, with 12 of them by knockout, and suffered eight defeats and two draws.

However, the veteran boxer had been struggling in recent years, suffering four consecutive losses before this ill-fated bout. His last fight was in December 2024, when he lost to Idowu Raheed at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos.

Despite recent setbacks, Olanrewaju had been a seasoned competitor and a respected figure in the boxing world.