By Nwaneri Uche
Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, died after collapsing during a boxing match in Ghana on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Olanrewaju lost consciousness while in a bout with Jon Mbanugu, a Ghanaian boxer, at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at the Bukom Boxing Arena. Reports indicate that he was ahead on points before the tragic incident occurred.
A widely circulated video on social media, capturing the moment of his collapse in the ring, has left the boxing community and fans in shock.
Segun, a well recognised figure in Nigerian boxing,won both the national and west African light-heavyweight titles all through his career.
Olanrewaju made his professional debut on July 30, 2019, in Lagos against Najeem Jimoh. He won the fight by unanimous decision. He would go on to fight 23 times, with 13 victories, eight losses, and two draws, with 12 of the victories coming by way of knockout.
He also took his trade beyond the shores of Africa to Russia, where he fought five times to cement his status as an international boxer.
The boxing community mourns his sudden death and celebrates his contributions to the sport in Nigeria and across West Africa.