The boxing community is in mourning following the sudden death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju during a bout on Saturday night, March 29, 2025.

The 40-year-old fighter, nicknamed Success, collapsed in the middle of a fight against Ghana-born John Mbanugu, also known as Power, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.

The incident occurred during an undercard bout in Ghana’s Professional Boxing League, when Olanrewaju suddenly fell to the canvas in the third round of the scheduled eight-round match.

Both boxers had been fiercely trading punches when Olanrewaju stumbled and collapsed with just 15 seconds remaining in the round.

Initially, the bellman and timekeeper counted, assuming it was a knockdown, but it quickly became clear that the situation was far more serious.

The referee immediately halted the match and called for medical assistance.

Despite frantic attempts by medical personnel to revive him, Olanrewaju was tragically pronounced dead shortly after the collapse, with preliminary reports suggesting cardiac arrest as the cause of death.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olanrewaju had a remarkable boxing career, participating in 23 professional bouts.

According to BoxRec, he achieved 13 wins, with 12 of them by knockout, and suffered eight defeats and two draws.

However, the veteran boxer had been struggling in recent years, suffering four consecutive losses before this ill-fated bout.

His last fight was in December 2024, when he lost to Idowu Raheed at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos.

Despite recent setbacks, Olanrewaju had been a seasoned competitor and a respected figure in the boxing world.

The tragic incident has shaken the boxing community, particularly in Africa, where Olanrewaju was well known for his powerful fighting style.

As the boxing world reflects on the loss of this seasoned fighter, tributes from fans and colleagues continue to pour in, honouring Olanrewaju’s dedication to the sport and his legacy in the ring.

Kofi Asiedu Duodu:

"Oooh no. Did they have any emergency services around? If not I then those who sanctioned this fight should be punished. The other boxer also needs counselling because he could be traumatised by what happened."

Danielle Yaw Owusu-Asante:

"It could be cardiac arrest because you could see that he was fading out without a touch from his opponent."

Mathias Atta Valanky:

"Our emergency response is very poor. I expected them to have started Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) immediately."

Kingstone C Mtonga:

"This looks like cardiac arrest."

Previously, boxer Sherif Lawal tragically lost his life during his first-ever professional fight after receiving a fatal blow from his opponent, Malam Varela.

The devastating incident occurred at the Harrow Leisure Centre in London, where Lawal collapsed after being struck on the temple during the match.

The middleweight boxer was knocked down in the fourth round of the scheduled six-round contest.

Source: TUKO.co.ke