The Communications Director of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Mohammed Aminu Lamptey, has provided a detailed account of the tragic death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Olanrewaju, who collapsed during a boxing bout on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.
Olanrewaju was competing against Ghana’s Jon Mbanugu in an eight-round contest at a Boxing Promotions event. According to Lamptey, the Nigerian fighter was performing well and appeared to be in control of the match. However, in the third round, events took a sudden and tragic turn.
“From the start, he was leading. He won the first round, was ahead in the second, and continued to dominate in the third before the unfortunate incident occurred,” Lamptey recounted in a conversation with Michael Kofi Oduro on Metro TV.
“This was a very experienced boxer with 23 professional fights under his belt. He had recorded 13 wins, including 12 by knockout, two draws, and had suffered eight losses. He was known for his durability and skill, which makes what happened even more shocking.”
Lamptey clarified that Olanrewaju’s collapse was not caused by a direct punch.
“It wasn’t a knockout. Both fighters were actively engaged, exchanging punches. In fact, Olanrewaju had the upper hand. He landed an uppercut while Mbanugu attempted to break through his guard, but he defended well. Then, suddenly, he stepped back, leaned against the ropes, and collapsed.”
Initially, the referee treated the situation as a standard knockdown and began the count. However, he quickly realized something was seriously wrong.
“The referee noticed that Olanrewaju wasn’t responding normally and immediately signaled for the ringside medical team. The physicians and paramedics rushed in, provided first aid, and managed to partially resuscitate him before making the critical decision to transport him to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital,” Lamptey explained.
Medical personnel at the hospital worked tirelessly to stabilize him, while officials from the Ghana Boxing Authority, including the GBA president and several board members, remained on-site, anxiously awaiting updates.
“Despite the doctors’ best efforts, Olanrewaju sadly passed away just 30 minutes after being admitted,” Lamptey confirmed.
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.
Have a news story, press release, or opinion piece you’d like to share with our audience? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at editor@metrotvonline.com
