Ghana Boxing Authority officials say the body of late Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju will be sent back home Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Olarewaju died on March 29, 2025, in the middle of a bout at the Bokum Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana. According to GBA president Abraham Kotei Neequaye, the delay in returning the corpse for burial was due to investigations into cause his death and obtaining the necessary documentations from the Ministry of Health.
He said flight arrangement have been made to return the boxers remains to his country for burial
“The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), in collaboration with the bereaved family of the late pugilist, diplomatically requested that the body should be repatriated to Nigeria on June 17, 2025, to help them prepare the grounds in anticipation to offer their former national champion a befitting return home,” said a statement signed by the GBA president.
The boxer’s death has prompted Ghanaian sports authorities to make reforms based on the recommendations of the investigation committee.
“Life is precious, and the incident that happened was unfortunate, but it serves as a call to be able to reform things,” said Ghana Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams.
“I hope this will serve as a lesson to other federations and not just boxing. This is a wake-up call for associations and federations to do the right thing and follow the laid-down procedures in organising events.”
Gabriel Olanrewaju