Communications Director of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Mohammed Aminu Lamptey, has addressed the confusion surrounding the death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Olanrewaju, clarifying that the boxer did not die in the ring, as some had speculated, but rather at the hospital.
Olanrewaju collapsed during an eight-round bout against Ghana’s Jon Mbanugu on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra. Despite reports claiming he passed away in the ring, Lamptey strongly refuted this, offering a detailed explanation of the events.
“Those who claim he died in the ring weren’t even there. If he had died at the Bukom Boxing Arena, why would we then be told he died at Korle Bu Hospital?” Lamptey asked in an interview on Metro TV with Michael Kofi Oduro.
He explained that he was near ringside when the incident occurred and witnessed the paramedics’ immediate response.
“We all saw what happened. They started working on him right away, and although it took some time before he was transported to the hospital, he was not declared dead on arrival. He was placed on oxygen, and it took about 30 minutes before he passed away.”
Lamptey also praised the National Ambulance Service paramedics for their swift and professional response.
“The paramedics acted quickly and did their best to resuscitate him. The paramedics from the National Ambulance Service were even on site, assisting and providing critical information about what had happened.
“They helped guide the team, ensuring they knew the proper procedures for performing full resuscitation. Since the resuscitation was only partially successful, when he was transported to the hospital, he was placed on oxygen. It was about 30 minutes before he passed away. So, he died at Korle Bu Hospital,” he added.
Following the death, Oluremi Aboderin, Secretary-General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, alleged that Jon Mbanugu was overweight for the bout and that Gabriel had been bribed to allow the fight to proceed.
Lamptey strongly rejected these allegations and expressed disappointment that Aboderin had made such claims during this sensitive time.
He further revealed that the deceased’s body has been deposited at the morgue, and an autopsy will be conducted once the GBA obtains the necessary police report.
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