Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, a 31-year-old Nigerian boxer known as "Success," died after collapsing during a match in Ghana on March 28, 2024. The light heavyweight fighter suddenly fell to the canvas with just 15 seconds left in the third round of his bout against Jon 'Power' Mbanugu.
Olanrewaju, born in Lagos on December 8, 1993, had a professional record of 13 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws, with 12 of his victories coming by knockout. The incident occurred despite Olanrewaju showing no signs of distress moments earlier, even smiling after his opponent's attacks.
As soon as Olanrewaju collapsed, the referee rushed to his aid. A doctor quickly entered the ring and checked the boxer's airways. Emergency responders transported Olanrewaju to Korle-Bu University Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead 30 minutes after arrival. Ghana's Olympic Committee and Boxing Authority confirmed the tragic news.
Olanrewaju started his professional career in July 2019, winning his first three fights. He then faced a setback when he lost his bid for the African cruiserweight title against Olanrewaju Durodola, unable to continue after the fourth round.
The Nigerian fighter bounced back, winning his next six fights by knockout. He claimed the Nigerian light heavyweight championship in late 2021 and added the West African Boxing Union light heavyweight title to his accolades in September 2023.
"Success was a dedicated boxer who worked hard to climb the ranks in his weight class," said a representative from the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control. "His sudden loss is a shock to the entire boxing community."
Recently, Olanrewaju had faced challenges in the ring, losing his last four fights in 2024. However, he showed resilience, getting knocked out in only one of these losses.
The boxing world mourns the loss of this promising athlete. Authorities will conduct an investigation to determine the exact cause of Olanrewaju's collapse and subsequent death. Rest in peace, Gabriel "Success" Olanrewaju.
