The preliminary cause of death of Nigerian boxer Oluwasegun Olanrewaju has been revealed, after an autopsy conducted in Ghana, Sports247 reports.
The boxing world was plunged into mourning following the tragic death of Olanrewaju, who collapsed in the ring during a match in Ghana and never regained consciousness.
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The bout, held in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday, March 30, 2025, saw Olanrewaju face a Ghanaian opponent in what was expected to be a fierce welterweight contest.
Just moments into the later rounds, Segun showed signs of distress and collapsed, prompting immediate medical intervention.
Despite the efforts of ringside doctors and emergency personnel, he was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to the hospital.
An autopsy was conducted on April 2, 2025, to determine the cause of the sudden collapse.
According to Remi Aboderin, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and President of the West African Boxing Union, preliminary results point to cardiac arrest.
“The preliminary post-mortem results indicate that Segun died from sudden cardiac arrest,” Aboderin revealed.
He further clarified that while the early findings offer a direction, additional investigations into Olanrewaju’s heart condition are still necessary.
“An in-depth analysis of his heart condition is required before any final conclusions can be made,” he added.
As a result, Segun’s body will not be released to Nigeria for burial until approximately two weeks after the autopsy, to allow time for the completion of the full medical review.
Segun Olanrewaju, 40, a former Nigerian champion, held a professional record of 13 wins (12 by knockout), 9 losses, and 2 draws — a total of 24 fights.
The boxing community now awaits not only the final autopsy results but also the opportunity to honor a fallen warrior with a befitting burial — a fighter who gave everything in the ring, right to his final breath.
