BOXING: Ex-IBF champion Joshua Clottey reacts to the death of Nigerian boxer, calls for proper checks before bout

Former Inter­national Boxing Federation (IBF) world welterweight champion, Joshua Clottey has reacted to the death of Nigerian boxer Segun Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who lost his life during a boxing bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Oluwasegun tragically passed away following an abrupt stoppage in his bout against Ghana’s Jonathan Mbanugu over the weekend.

The bout, staged on Saturday, March 29, was a special feature on the Bel 7 Star Professional Boxing League fight night.

The incident has sparked concerns about potential tensions between the two nations’ boxing federations, raising questions about athlete safety and the competitive rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria in sports. The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBC), led by President Dr. Rafiu Oladipo has requested an autopsy report from the Ghana Boxing Authority to ensure transparency.

Reacting to the news, Joshua said, “I heard it, and it is very bad. This is the first time something like this has happened in Ghana. It is very, very bad, but we should know that God is the giver and also the taker. We have to pray for his family. It is not easy,” he told Atinka Tv.

“I don’t know whether he was checked properly before the bout as a foreigner. I observed that the Ghanaian boxer was not beating the Nigerian boxer when the incident happened, so it is not about the fight. I know that autopsy will be done and it will declare the cause because heart attack can also come at any time when fighting but we can’t attribute this to the punches of the Ghanaian guy because he was not beating the Nigerian guy.

A Call For Proper Medical Checks Before Fighting

“This is very bad but I will urge the GBA to do proper checks, including medical form, before we can allow them to fight,” Joshua added.