Nigerian Boxer Segun Olanrewaju Dies After Collapsing in Ghana Fight  

The Nigerian boxing community is mourning the sudden death of Segun “Success” Olanrewaju, a former national and West African light-heavyweight champion, who collapsed during a match in Ghana.

Olanrewaju, 40, was competing against Ghanaian fighter John “Power” Mbanugu in an undercard bout at Ghana’s Professional Boxing League when the tragic incident occurred. The fight, held on Saturday, March 29, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, was in its third round when Olanrewaju suddenly collapsed with just 15 seconds remaining.

The referee immediately signaled for medical assistance, and paramedics rushed to the ring in an attempt to revive him. Despite their efforts, Olanrewaju was pronounced dead, with initial reports suggesting a possible cardiac arrest as the cause.

Footage from the match, now circulating online, captures the intense exchanges between both fighters before Olanrewaju lost his balance and fell to the canvas.

Born in Lagos, Olanrewaju had a professional boxing career spanning over two decades, recording 13 wins—12 by knockout—out of 23 fights. However, in recent years, he faced setbacks, losing four consecutive bouts before his final fight. His last match before the Ghana bout was on December 24, 2024, when he was defeated by Idowu Raheed at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos.