Pro Boxer Dies Suddenly in 3rd Round of Fight Captured on Video
A professional boxer has died suddenly in the 3rd round of a fight.
The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) "can officially confirm the death of a Nigerian boxer by the name Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who passed away at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital," the GBA wrote in a March 30, 2025, statement.
A disturbing video, posted to Facebook, shows the moment that the boxer suddenly fell backwards.
"The Nigerian Gabriel Oluwsegun Olanrewaju took on his Ghanaian opponent Jon Mbanugu in a light heavyweight international contest over 8 rounds on the Imax Boxing Promotions fights bill for the ongoing Bel 7star energy drink professional boxing league for week 15," the statement says.
"Oluwasegun seemed to have dominated the fight from round one but unfortunately met his untimely exit from the ring in round 3 (2 minutes 46 seconds)," the statement continues.
Kofi Adams extends condolences to family of Nigerian boxer who died during match in Ghana. https://t.co/giXsntld2g pic.twitter.com/etJfqdlaKQ
— Pulse Ghana (@PulseGhana) April 1, 2025
Gabriel Oluwasegun, a few seconds before the third round ended, stepped "back during the fight and leaned on the ropes with his back without any punch whatsoever from his opponent Jon Mbanugu," the GBA wrote.
"The referee, Richard Amevi sensing danger, waved his hand for the end of the fight, and immediately invited the ringside physician with the support of paramedics from the national ambulance service to attend to the boxer and help resuscitate him," the statement says.
"After applying the first-aid resuscitating process, the boxer was immediately transported to the Korlebu Teaching Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes after arrival," it notes.
The GBA president, Abraham Kotei Neequaye, "who was close to the scene at the ring side and at the hospital, immediately started the processes of preserving the boxer's body after he was pronounced dead, whilst speaking to the General Secretary of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBC), Remi Abodorin on the situation," it adds.
"The GBA president reported the incident to the Korle Bu police station, and this morning helped to move the body to the main mortuary for preservation."
The cause of death was not given.
Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju "was declared medically fit by the Nigeria Boxing Board Control (NBBC) with his certified certificate as a professional boxer before the GBA sanctioned and approved the international contest," the statement continues. "He entered the ring with an official record of 23 fights, 8 defeats, 13 victories, and 12 of the victories came by way of knockouts."
The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) is "seriously mourning the demise of a potential world beater who was dictating a beautiful fight and all of a sudden visited the canvas and 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," the statement continued.
It was signed by Mohammed Amin Lamptey, the GBA's director of communication.