An autopsy conducted on the body of 40-year-old Nigerian boxer, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, who collapsed during a match at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Ghana on Saturday, March 29, 2025, has revealed that he died from sudden cardiac arrest.
Olanrewaju, a former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, was in an undercard bout against Ghanaian fighter John Mbanugu, popularly known as “Power,” when he unexpectedly fell to the canvas mid-fight. The referee immediately called for medical assistance. Although medical personnel responded swiftly and attempted to revive him, the boxer was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaking to journalists, Remi Aboderin—Secretary-General of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and President of the West African Boxing Union—confirmed the preliminary autopsy results. He stated, “The initial post-mortem indicates that Segun died from sudden cardiac arrest. However, additional investigation into his heart condition is necessary, which means his body won’t be released for repatriation to Nigeria for burial for at least two weeks.”
The autopsy was officially carried out on Wednesday, April 2, following a court order authorising the examination into the circumstances surrounding Olanrewaju’s death.
