‘No medical was done’ — NBB of C accuses Ghanaian federation of negligence in Nigerian boxer’s death

The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) have accused the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) of negligence in the death of Segun Olanrewaju during a fight in the country. 

In a chat with TheCable on Monday, Remi Aboderin, secretary-general of the NBB of C, said the GBA did not adhere to the sport’s rules and regulations before staging the boxing fight.

On Saturday, Olarenwaju died after slumping during a boxing match in Ghana.

The 40-year-old boxer, nicknamed “Success”, stumbled to the canvas while fighting Jon Mbanugu, a Ghanian, at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena, Accra.

Olanrewaju was not punched or near his opponent when he collapsed violently in round three of the light-heavyweight bout.

The boxer was pronounced dead 30 minutes after he was rushed to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Aboderin said the fight happened 24 hours later than the date that the NBB of C had approved for the bout.

He said the fight was initially scheduled for Thursday but was moved to Friday without communication or approval with the NBB of C.

The NBB of C secretary general added that no medical examinations were done, and the compulsory weigh-in ceremony was also ignored before the rescheduled fight.

“Segun went to Ghana to fight according to the contract, but the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) did not do their 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 told TheCable.

“He died because the rules and regulations of the sport were not adhered to by GBA. The fight that NBB of C approved for Segun was on the 28th of March, not the 29th. No medical examinations were performed to ascertain his health.

“We only have 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 was done. No weigh-in was done. He must have been stressed.”

Olanrewaju was a former West African and national light-heavyweight champion.

He competed in 24 bouts with 13 wins, eight losses, and three draws.