The Ghanaian Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has established a seven-man committee to probe the death of Nigerian boxer Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, popularly known as ‘Success’. Olanrewaju, 40, collapsed during a bout at the Trust Sports Emporium Boxing Arena in Accra on March 29, 2025, and was later pronounced dead at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The committee, headed by Major (Retd) Amarkai Amarteifio, will investigate the circumstances surrounding Olanrewaju’s death, including whether the organizers of the boxing league match followed international standards to prevent the tragedy. The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control has raised concerns about negligence on the part of the Ghana Boxing Authority, citing irregularities such as weight differential issues and lack of pre-fight medical examination.
Key Findings and Concerns:
- Cause of Death: An autopsy revealed that Olanrewaju died from sudden cardiac arrest during his bout.
- Irregularities: The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control alleged that Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, a.k.a. ‘success’ was permitted to fight for a light-heavyweight challenge weighing 85kg, which falls in the cruiserweight category, without proper medical clearance.
- Date Change: The board noted that their release letter approved the fight for March 28, not March 29, with no communication regarding the date change.
Committee’s Task:
The committee will determine whether the organizers or promoters of the boxing match took adequate steps to prevent Olanrewaju’s death and whether the licensing authorities in Nigeria acted with due diligence in allowing the boxer to accept an international match in Accra.
Ghanaian Sports Minister Kofi Adams said, “The committee will investigate the circumstances leading to the death of the Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju at the Bukom Boxing Arena on the 29th of March 2025.”
The investigation aims to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, Nigeria’s boxer’s tragic death and to prevent similar incidents in the future.