Facts emerge, how Nigerian boxer, Olanrewaju died in Ghana during bout

Posted : 01 April 2025

Facts are now emerging regarding the possible lead to unravel the circumstances behind the death of Nigerian boxer Segun Olanrewaju, who collapsed and died in the ring on Saturday.

A source claimed that Olanrewaju made the decision to fight in Ghana, defying the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control's (NBB of C) ruling that had stopped him from entering the ring.

According to the Secretary-General of the NBB of C, Remi Aboderin, the boxing body had permitted Olanrewaju to fight on Friday, but the bout was canceled.

Aboderin explained that the late pugilist then decided to fight the next day to make some money and clear his debts back home.

“Segun got our approval to fight in Ghana, a fight that was initially proposed to take place on Friday. Unfortunately, during the weigh-in on Thursday, he was found to be overweight, and they informed him that the opponent was not in his weight class.

“They said they would increase his purse by $500, which he felt was too little, and because of that, no agreement was reached.”

Aboderin further revealed that another Nigerian fought on that Friday night.

“On Saturday morning, while they were on their way back to Lagos, they had already left Accra and were at the Aflao border when Segun told his coach, Diran Alamu, that it wasn’t going to be easy returning home. He left Nigeria with no money, had debts to pay, and needed cash.

“He wanted to contact the Ghanaians to see if another fight was coming up. He told them he was now ready to accept the additional $500, as discussed, because he felt it would be unwise to return home without money.”
“So, they called the matchmaker, who informed him that there was a fight on Saturday night and that they could put the fight for that Saturday, but we didn’t give him the approval for that, and this is where the GBA (Ghana Boxing Association) erred.

So, he turned back and went back to Ghana because he needed the money; he owed a lot of people money,” the NBB of C secretary added.

Coach Babatunde Ojo, who trained Olanrewaju, said that he advised the boxer against fighting on short notice.

“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 said.

“He initially told me the fight was on April 1, but he called later to say it was no longer next month but on March 29.

“So, I told him that it was at short notice but if he wanted us to go together, he should tell the organisers to book flights so we could go there and come back together.

He called them and when he got back to me, he said they told him they would get him a car that would take him to Ghana. I said no, that’s not possible. So, he knew I didn’t want him to go.

“After that, he called me that they (NBBofC) had given him a release letter (for the fight). I didn’t hear from him afterwards, so I called him.

He said he had been called again for the fight and was going that night. I told him, ‘Success, don’t you think this fight is too early?’

He said he would call me back. The next time I called him, he said he was on his way (to Ghana), and he didn’t call me because he knew I wouldn’t allow him go. That was why he didn’t tell me. He is an adult, so, I could not stop him.

“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,” Ojo added.

Facts emerge, how Nigerian boxer, Olanrewaju died in Ghana during bout

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