March 29, 2025—a night that was supposed to be just another fight night turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for the boxing world. During Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League (Season 3), Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju collapsed in the ring—and never got back up. He was 40.
It all happened in the third round of his fight against Ghanaian John Mbanugu at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on an undercard. The two were going at it, trading punches, when a visibly exasperated Olanrewaju, already on wobbly legs, suddenly fell against the ropes and slid onto the canvas in the middle of the eight-round contest. At first, the referee started the count, thinking it was just another knockdown. But within seconds, it was clear—this wasn’t a normal fall. As Olanrewaju gasped heavy breaths, the referee called off the fight and tried to help up the Nigerian.
Soon officials rushed in, trying everything to revive him. But nothing worked. He was quickly taken to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, but despite all efforts, doctors couldn’t save him. And just like that, the devastating news broke—Gabriel Olanrewaju was gone. His body was later taken to the Korle Bu mortuary.
A chilling video of the moment captures the final seconds of the fight, showing the exact moment Olanrewaju collapsed. The caption on the clip read: “A Nigerian boxer sadly passed away during a boxing match against a Ghanaian opponent at the Bukom Boxing Arena last night. Rest in peace ”
A Nigerian boxer sadly passed away during a boxing match against a Ghanaian opponent at the Bukom Boxing Arena last night. Rest in peace
— Dr Sneaker Nyame (@SneakerNyame_) March 30, 2025
But Olanrewaju wasn’t just another fighter. He was a champion. He held both the Nigerian national and West African Boxing Union light heavyweight titles and had built a strong reputation since turning pro in 2019. Reports say he was even ahead on points before everything took a tragic turn.
His last fight? Just a few months ago, on December 24, 2024, against Idowu Raheed in Lagos. With 23 professional fights under his belt—13 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws—Olanrewaju left his mark on Nigerian boxing. Fans and fellow boxers flooded social media with condolences, mourning the tragic loss of a respected fighter, nicknamed “Success”.
Oh chale indeed
“Oh chale, RIP ,” a user wrote on X after the news broke on X. In Nigerian Pidgin, “Chale” is an informal term, meaning “man”, “dude”, or “friend”, often used in an endearing way to refer to someone. One user simply couldn’t bear to watch the heartbreaking moment, and wrote, “Oh chale this is sad to watch. .” Another user reflected on the harsh reality of the sport, reminding everyone that Olanrewaju lost his life doing what he loved. “First time seeing such thing oo ei. He passed away doing his job hmm.”
Some questioned the medical response at the scene, worried that proper care wasn’t provided in time. “Oooh this is sad…no paramedics??” one user asked, highlighting a major concern in boxing safety, especially in less strictly regulated bouts.
Another person took a moment to point out the risks that boxers take every time they step into the ring, arguing that they deserve better pay for the dangers they face. “Oh this is very bad. Sometimes we the spectators will be judging the amount they receive even when they lose the match. See what just happened. They deserve even more than what they take home,” the user wrote. Boxing is indeed one of the most dangerous sports in the world, with an average of 1.5 fatalities every year. A 2009 American Medical Association report estimated that boxing has a fatality rate of 0.13 deaths per 1,000 participants annually.
Meanwhile, a few people started wondering whether Olanrewaju’s opponent would face legal consequences, despite boxing being a high-risk sport where fighters knowingly accept the dangers. “So will they arrest the opponent for murder?” the user asked curiously. But the truth is, watching the fight clip makes it clear—Mbanugu barely landed anything before Olanrewaju abruptly collapsed. This wasn’t a brutal knockout. This was something else entirely. Regardless of the speculations and opinions, one thing remains—boxing lost a warrior, and the sport mourns a devastating loss. We at EssentiallySports extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju.
Rest in peace, champ.
The post “Oh Chale, RIP”: Nigerian Boxer Passes Away During Match, Leaving Fans Shocked & Mourning appeared first on EssentiallySports.