The Nigeria Boxing Board of Contro says boxer Segun “Success” Olanrewaju, who passed away on Saturday in Accra, Ghana, was not permitted to compete in the match after his first fight, which was originally planned for Friday, was cancelled due to his weight.
During his fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu on Saturday at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, the 40-year-old former National and West African light-heavyweight champion passed out.
According to information obtained by The Intercept, Olanrewaju was ahead on points before the fatal event during the planned eight-round light-heavyweight fight against Mbanugu, also referred to as “Jon Power,” who had a record of 12 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw, and 12 knockouts.
Officials and spectators at the Bukom Boxing Arena realised that something was very wrong in a matter of seconds. After Olanrewaju had delivered two feeble blows to his opponent, Mbanugu hit the Nigerian in the face with his right hand. To the surprise of the fans, the Nigerian boxer stumbled backwards, fell against the ropes, and collapsed after a brief stalemate between the two men.
As the referee started the required count, the Nigerian fighter sagged on his side. His throat leaned on one of the ropes as he turned face down a few moments later.
He seemed to be struggling for air, so his team hurried into the ring, laid him on the canvas, took off his gum shield, and tried to revive him. He was promptly taken to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital by the on-site emergency medical personnel, where he was later declared deceased.
NBBofC Secretary-General Remi Aboderin stated that although Olanrewaju was allowed to compete on Friday, the fight was called off. Aboderin claims that the late fighter then made the decision to compete the following day in order to earn some cash to pay off his debts back home.
“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. They told him the person he was to fight was not his weight.
“They said to do this, they would increase his purse with another $500, which he said was too small, and due to that, there was no agreement.”
Additionally, Aboderin disclosed that on Friday night, another Nigerian engaged in combat.
“Saturday morning, they were on their way back to Lagos, they had even left Accra and were at Aflao border when Segun said to the coach that followed him, that’s Diran Alamu, that it was not going to be easy returning home; he left Nigeria with no money and he had debts to pay and needed money. So, he wanted to call the Ghanaians and see if another fight was coming up and told them he was now ready to collect the additional $500 as discussed because he felt it would not pay him if he returned 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 NBBofC secretary added.
Olanrewaju’s trainer, coach Babatunde Ojo, told The Intercept that he cautioned the boxer against fighting quickly.
“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.
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“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 the,m 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 to 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.
