The mother of late Nigerian boxer, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, has called for justice following her son’s sudden death during a boxing match in Ghana.
In a viral video, the grieving mother pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians to intervene, revealing that before the fight, her son sent a message saying he was being pressured to step down for his opponent but refused.
Heartbreaking Plea for Justice
“Tinubu, help me. Segun is my only child. I raised him alone after his father died during the June 12, 1993 crisis,” she cried.
“He sent me a message saying he was being threatened to step down for his opponent, but he refused. We only saw the message after he died in that same match.”
She further stated:
“He fought from Round 1 to Round 2, but after Round 3, my son couldn’t lift his hands again. Don’t let this story be covered. Please, Nigerians, help me seek justice for my son. He has a wife and children. He’s the only one taking care of us.”
What Happened to Segun Olanrewaju?
Olanrewaju collapsed during a bout against Ghana’s John Mbagunu (Power) at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra last Saturday.
He was competing in an undercard bout of Ghana’s Professional Boxing League for a reported ₦3 million prize.
Officials of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) revealed that: Olanrewaju initially planned to return to Nigeria after the fight was postponed from Friday but the Organizers persuaded him to stay back and fight on Saturday. He had financial struggles, which may have influenced his decision to fight.
Investigation & Autopsy Report Awaited
- Remi Aboderin, Secretary General of NBB of C, confirmed the boxer was granted a late license to fight
- Dr. Raufiu Ladipo, NBB of C President, stated that medical checks should have been done before the fight.
- There was no visible knockout blow, making the autopsy crucial in determining the cause of death.
- Public holidays in Ghana may delay the autopsy report
Olanrewaju, 40, was born in Lagos and had 23 professional fights, with 13 wins (12 by knockout).
He had lost four consecutive fights before his tragic passing.
As investigations continue, his family and the Nigerian boxing community are demanding transparency and justice in uncovering what truly happened in Ghana.
