Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), has alleged foul play by the organizers of the bout that led to the death of Nigerian boxer Olanrewaju “Success” Oluwasegun in Ghana, Sports247 reports
Clearing the NBB of C of any responsibility, Ladipo believes Olanrewaju’s death was preventable and has questioned the role, actions, and inactions of the event organizers leading up to the fight.
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Speaking in an exclusive interview on Sports Beat on Jordan 105.5 FM in Lagos on Wednesday morning, Ladipo claimed there was an attempt to fix the match in favor of Olanrewaju’s opponent. He also alleged that the mandatory 24-hour pre-fight medical examination was not conducted.
“Olanrewaju was asked to lose the match in exchange for $1,500, but he refused. As a result, the fight, initially scheduled for Friday, was canceled,” Ladipo alleged.
He further revealed that as Olanrewaju was preparing to leave Ghana, he was called back and offered $500 to participate in another fight on Saturday. However, this bout proceeded without the required pre-fight medical check-up.
Dr. Ladipo confirmed that an autopsy is scheduled for today and emphasized that the NBB of C is closely monitoring the process to ensure transparency.
“We are committed to ensuring transparency in the autopsy process, as it is crucial to determining the true cause of his death,” he stated.
Dr. Ladipo’s allegations suggest possible foul play and negligence by the event organizers. If proven true, the lack of a mandatory medical check-up could have been a contributing factor to Olanrewaju’s tragic death.
This situation raises serious concerns about the safety and integrity of boxing events, especially for Nigerian fighters competing abroad. A thorough investigation by both Nigerian and Ghanaian boxing authorities is necessary.
If attempts to manipulate the fight’s outcome are confirmed, it would expose deeper corruption issues within the sport.
The boxing community now awaits the autopsy results as the investigation unfolds, hoping justice will be served for Olanrewaju “Success” Oluwasegun
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