Trainer Of Late Nigerian Boxer Gabriel Olanrewaju Speaks Out On His Tragic Death

The boxing world is in mourning following the untimely passing of Nigerian veteran boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju. His trainer, Babatunde Ojo, has broken his silence, revealing his concerns over the circumstances leading up to the ill-fated bout in Accra, Ghana.

The trainer of late boxer Gabriel Olanrewaju shares insights on his untimely
passing and career

Olanrewaju, 40, was initially scheduled to fight on Friday, March 29, but the match was canceled after weigh-ins determined he was outside the required weight class. However, a new opportunity emerged, and despite concerns over insufficient preparation time, he stepped into the ring the following night at the Bukom Boxing Arena.

In his bout against John Mbanugu, tragedy struck in the third round. Without receiving a significant punch, Gabriel staggered unexpectedly before collapsing against the ropes. Medical personnel rushed him to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, but all efforts to revive him failed, as reported by Graphic Online.

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Speaking to The PUNCH, Ojo recounted his attempts to dissuade Olanrewaju from accepting the fight at such short notice.

“He [Olanrewaju] told me they gave him a fight last week. After he informed me, I told him, ‘The fight is at short notice, you are not training, and you want to go? You can’t go. Leave this fight for a better offer,’” Ojo revealed.

According to Ojo, Gabriel initially thought the fight was scheduled for April 1 but later learned it had been moved to March 29. Concerned about the lack of adequate preparation, Ojo insisted that if his fighter was determined to go, the organizers should at least arrange proper travel accommodations for both of them.

“He called them, and when he got back to me, he said they told him they would get him a car to take him to Ghana. I said no, that’s not possible. So, he knew I didn’t want him to go,” Ojo explained.

Despite Ojo’s objections, Olanrewaju proceeded with the fight after securing an official release letter from the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBC). At that point, Ojo lost contact with him until his final departure.

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“After that, he called me, saying that NBBC had given him a release letter for the fight. I didn’t hear from him afterward, so I called him.

“He said he had been called again for the fight and was going that night. I told him, ‘Success, don’t you think this fight is too early?’ He said he would call me back.

“The next time I called him, he said he was on his way to Ghana and hadn’t informed me earlier because he knew I wouldn’t allow him to go. He is an adult, so I couldn’t stop him.”

Now mourning the devastating loss of his fighter, Coach Tunde issued a strong warning to other boxers about the dangers of accepting bouts without sufficient preparation time.

“Now we have this situation. These are the things I advise my boxers against. You can’t pick a fight at short notice; you need at least one month. I am very saddened by his loss; may his soul rest in peace.”

Olanrewaju’s passing underscores the harsh realities of professional boxing, where financial struggles often push fighters into perilous decisions. His tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with inadequate preparation and the need for better safety measures in the sport.

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