The boxing world is in mourning following the tragic death of Nigerian fighter Olanrewaju ‘Success’ Segun, who collapsed in the ring during a fight against Ghana’s Jon Mbanugu at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, March 29.
A former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, Olanrewaju was competing at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League when he suddenly lost consciousness in the third round. Reports indicate he was ahead on points before the tragic incident occurred.
According to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), witnesses described the shocking moment Olanrewaju collapsed, prompting an immediate response from the referee, trainers, and medical personnel. Despite urgent efforts to revive him, he remained unresponsive and was rushed to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
While the official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, early speculation suggests he may have suffered a cardiac arrest.
A widely circulated video on social media captures the heartbreaking moment, leaving fans and fellow athletes in shock. The boxing community has since been paying tribute, remembering Olanrewaju as a dedicated and highly respected athlete.
His opponent, Jon Mbanugu, was visibly shaken by the tragedy and has expressed his deep condolences to Olanrewaju’s family and loved ones. What began as an intense contest between two skilled fighters ended in heartbreak, shifting the focus from competition to mourning.
Olanrewaju’s last recorded fight before Saturday’s tragic incident was on December 24, 2024, against Idowu Raheed at Lagos’ Campos Mini Stadium. His sudden passing has left a lasting impact on the sport, with both the Nigerian and Ghanaian boxing communities grieving the loss of an exceptional athlete.
Fans have taken to social media to express their sorrow:
- nicolenicol21: What are they looking for inside his mouth instead of administering CPR? 🤦😢 God rest his soul🥹🙏.
- official_abcongo: But this is really crazy. When this incident happened yesterday, they were told not to…
- sounds_of_ire: Long life is not certain, even though we all want it. In Christ alone is longevity 💯.
- onyinyechi__favour: They should have noticed something totally off 💔 RIP.
- ceci_banjoko: In our pursuit for success, may we not drop dead 😢😢😢🙏🙏 RIP champ.
This heartbreaking loss has once again highlighted the risks involved in combat sports and the need for continuous improvement in fighter safety and medical protocols.
