The panel has been mandated to establish the exact circumstances that led to Olanrewaju’s death and evaluate whether all required medical and regulatory procedures were followed before and during the boxing match. Specifically, the committee will review whether the event organisers met international standards in safeguarding the health of participating boxers.
Accra – Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, popularly known in the ring as ‘Success’.
The 40-year-old pugilist tragically passed away after collapsing mid-fight during a boxing bout at the Trust Sports Emporium in Bukom, Accra, on March 29, 2025. He was later pronounced dead at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, with an autopsy confirming that he died of sudden cardiac arrest.
The unfortunate incident has since sparked widespread conversation across the Ghanaian and Nigerian sporting communities, raising critical concerns about athlete safety protocols and regulatory oversight within professional boxing.
In response, Minister Adams moved to fulfil his earlier promise to thoroughly probe the tragic event by inaugurating an investigative panel. The committee is chaired by Major (Rtd.) Amarkai Amarteifio and includes notable personalities such as former Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) President Peter Zwennes, seasoned sports journalists Ekow Ansah and Samuel Bartels, Eddie Pappoe, Juliana Addo-Yobo, and Martin Engmann.
The panel has been mandated to establish the exact circumstances that led to Olanrewaju’s death and evaluate whether all required medical and regulatory procedures were followed before and during the boxing match. Specifically, the committee will review whether the event organisers met international standards in safeguarding the health of participating boxers.
The scope of their inquiry also extends to Nigeria, as they are expected to determine whether the Nigerian licensing authorities adhered to due process before clearing Olanrewaju for the international fight in Ghana, considering his age, qualification, and experience.
The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the bout was handled. In a formal complaint, the Board accused the GBA of gross negligence, citing multiple irregularities including a reported mismatch in weight classification. They allege that Olanrewaju, weighing 85kg, fought in what should have been a cruiserweight category under the guise of a light-heavyweight contest. The NBBofC also claimed the boxer underwent no medical assessment at the weigh-in.
Another point of contention was the date of the fight. The Nigerian Board stated that their approval was granted for a March 28 bout, but the fight took place a day later, on March 29, without any official communication regarding the schedule change.
Until his demise, Olanrewaju had built a respectable boxing record. Since turning professional in 2019, he competed in 24 bouts, notching 13 wins—12 of them by knockout—alongside nine losses and two draws. He previously held both the Nigerian and West African light-heavyweight titles.
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