By Kwame Bediako
The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) has accused the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) of negligence, alleging that poor oversight and violations of boxing regulations contributed to Olanrewaju’s untimely death.
Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who collapsed during a bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena on March 29, 2025, was later pronounced dead at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The NBBofC emphasised that while boxing is an inherently risky sport, the safety of athletes must always come first. “Boxing is not for the faint-hearted, but when the ultimate happens, we must ensure that all rules and regulations were followed,” the NBBofC stated.
The board clarified that it is not seeking to escalate tensions with its Ghanaian counterpart but feels compelled to highlight the lapses in protocol that it believes led to the tragedy.
“No word can best describe this situation other than negligence on the part of the Ghana Boxing Authority,” the NBBofC explained.
The NBBofC further outlined three key areas of negligence in its statement.
First, it pointed out a weight discrepancy, noting that Olanrewaju was allowed to fight in a light heavyweight challenge despite weighing 85 kg — which falls under the cruiserweight category.
Second, the board alleged that no pre-fight medical examination was conducted on the boxer during the weigh-in — a critical step to ensure his fitness for the bout.
