Nigerian Boxer Gabriel Olanrewaju Dies during Boxing Bout

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 40-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.

Boxer Collapses Mid-Fight

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.

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

A viral video of the fight showed both boxers exchanging powerful punches before Olanrewaju staggered and collapsed, hitting his head on the ring.

Experienced Boxer with 23 Professional Fights

According to BoxRec, Olanrewaju was born in Lagos and had 23 professional fights, winning 13, with 12 victories coming by knockout. However, he had been struggling in recent years, losing four fights in a row before this tragic match.

The Ghana Boxing Authority is expected to release an official statement on the incident as the boxing world mourns the loss of a seasoned fighter.