The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control has revealed that Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, the Nigerian boxer who died after collapsing in a fight in Ghana, was not granted approval for the fatal bout. According to the NBBofC, Olanrewaju was initially scheduled to fight on Friday, but the bout was cancelled after he was found to be overweight.
Late Nigerian Boxer Died Fighting for N3m in Ghana
A Desperate Bid to Make Money
Secretary-General of the NBBofC, Remi Aboderin, stated that Olanrewaju then decided to fight on Saturday without the board’s approval, in a desperate bid to make money to clear his debts. “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,” Aboderin said.
Aboderin further revealed that Olanrewaju was advised against fighting on short notice by his coach, Babatunde Ojo. “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,'” Ojo told The PUNCH.
Coach Advised Against Fighting
Ojo expressed his sadness over Olanrewaju’s death, saying, “Now we have this situation, these are the things I advise my boxers against; you can’t pick a fight at short notice, you need at least one month. I am very saddened by his loss; may his soul rest in peace.”
Autopsy to Determine Cause of Death
The NBBofC has blamed the Ghana Boxing Association for allowing Olanrewaju to fight without the necessary approval. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and welfare of boxers, particularly those who are desperate to make a living from the sport. According to the NBBofC President, Dr Raufiu Ladipo, the autopsy will determine the cause of Olanrewaju’s death.
A Tragic End to a Boxing Career
Olanrewaju, who was born in Lagos, had 23 professional fights, winning 13, with 12 victories coming by knockout. But according to reports, he had been struggling in recent years, losing four fights in a row before this tragic match. The boxing community has been left in shock by Olanrewaju’s sudden and tragic death.
Ireport247new has reported the death of the Nigerian Boxer yesterday, promising to bring you updates on the misery surrounding his death as it unfolds.