Nigerian Boxer, Olarenwaju, Dies In Ring in Ghana
The world of pugilism suffered a setback on Saturday night when Nigerian Boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olarenwaju, collapsed and died during a fight .
He was the second Nigerian to suffer such fate in the same country, within a year, following the earlier incident involving Sheriff Lawal..
Ola, as he was more popularly called , was up against Ghanaian John Mbanugu, and both boxers had evenly exchanged blows in the Saturday encounter before he ( Ola) lost balance and collapsed on the canvas.
The referee, mistaking his fall for a routine one, began the mandatory count out.
But things changed dramatically when Ola proved unresponsive and the referee had to call time on the fight.
Subsequently, ringside medical doctors and other health officials scurried to his aid.
But haste was useless.
Ola had passed on, leaving every one around wondering what could have led to his ring side demise.
Before the tragic turn of events, Ola had had 23 fights, won 13, including 12 by knockout, drawn two and lost eight.
- He had lost all his last four bouts, including his penultimate engagement on December 24, 2023, at Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos.
His death followed the same trajectory of his compatriot, Sheriff Lawal, the London- based pugilist who died in May 2024, during a boxing fight in the same country, Ghana.
Authorities of the Ghanaian Boxing are expected to issue a statement later today ( Sunday) on the Oka tragedy
