Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has extended heartfelt condolences to the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBC) and the family of Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju following his tragic death.
Gabriel passed away during a bout on Saturday night, March 29, 2025, at the Bukom Boxing Arena.
Olanrewaju, 40, was competing against Accra-born boxer John Mbanugu, popularly known as Power, in an undercard fight in Ghana’s Professional Boxing League.
Reacting to the death, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) noted that he was medically cleared to fight.
However, Nigerian authorities have also stated the deceased was not cleared to fight.
The Secretary-General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, Oluremi Aboderin, claimed that the boxer had refused to fight after disagreements over financial terms.
In a statement, Mr. Adams pledged full cooperation to ensure a thorough investigation and to support all efforts aimed at ensuring the safety of athletes, pending the autopsy.
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