Nigeria and indeed the boxing fraternity has lost one of its rising stars, Gabriel Segun Olanrewaju, a former West African and national light-heavyweight champion who collapsed during a bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana on March 29.
Reports have it that the 40-year-old boxer who goes by the alias “Success” hit the canvas while taking on Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu on Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League.
There are insinuations that Olanrewaju who accepted the bout because of certain financial constraints was not in good health and should not have undertaken that fatal expedition. According to reports, he was not punched and was not near his opponent when he collapsed in round three.
Despite efforts to revive him in a facility where he was rushed to, Doctors pronounced him dead shortly after. He was competing in an eight-round international light-heavyweight contest endorsed by the Ghana Boxing Authority, GBA.
Expectedly, Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Honourable Kofi Iddie Adams, expressed deep sorrow on the tragic encounter.
On March 31, Adams extended condolences on behalf of the Ghanaian government to Olanrewaju’s family, friends, and colleagues. He hailed the Nigerian boxer’s talent, passion, and courage, describing his death as a significant loss to the boxing community.
However, it was a different tune in Nigeria as the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, NBB of C, accused the GBA of negligence. The Board’s Secretary-General, Remi Aboderin, said GBA’s actions fell short of professional ethics which are imperative before staging the bout.
“Segun went to Ghana to fight according to the contract, but officials of the GBA did not do due diligence. They did not do the medical examination, and they did not make sure he made the weight for the fight. The date we approved for him to go and fight was Friday, the 28th. How come he fought on the 29th? He died because the rules and regulations of the sport were not adhered to by the GBA.
“The fight that the NBB of C approved for Segun was on March 28, not 29th. No medical examinations were performed to ascertain his health. We only had this incident because the rules were not adhered to. When the Friday bout was cancelled due to an overweight issue, Segun was already on his way back to Nigeria. He was already at the border before he was contacted to return, or maybe he had a rethink. He returned. No medical care was done. No weigh-in was done. He must have been under a lot of stress,” Aboderin said.
To the boxer’s profile is an outstanding performance, having competed in 24 bouts with 13 wins, eight losses and three draws. It is a score-sheet that is remarkable and perhaps may have surpassed that record if not for this untimely exit.
Judging from records he is not the only victim of this circumstance as there were others who died in the ring or shortly after a bout.
Given the fact that martial sports is herculean and exerts intensive pressure on actors, it is imperative for boxing authorities to ensure that the rules are strictly adhered to.
We are of the view that allegations against the GBA as regards lack of adherence to the rules needs to be examined thoroughly and dispassionately while the authorities take steps to ensure that the sport is relatively safe going ahead.
Competitors owe themselves a duty to always conduct medical check-ups and ensure that they are certified medically fit before getting into the ring. They must also ensure that they are in the right mental frame.
It is not absurd to abort a match where health concerns are implicated than for one losing his life for sake of competition.
As a boxer, Olanrewaju has no doubt made a mark even as we are saddened he died when it was thought he had more to offer.
It is needful for sports authorities to ensure that incidents similar to the Ghana experience are mitigated.
