A horrific video of a boxer dying in the ring is being circulated, shared, and even liked on social media.
The disgusting clip, which should be blacked out in respect of the deceased fighter, continues to be pushed to millions of viewers.
Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju struggled for the last minute and a half of his life. He blinked continuously, couldn’t gain his footing, and eventually collapsed and passed away while doing his job.
That should be where the visualization of someone’s death should have ended. However, the fact that people are sharing the video shows just where society has stooped in this day and age.
Olanrewaju, who held a record of 13-8-1, 12 KOs, was battling Jon Mbanugu [13-1-1, 12 KOs] when he got into difficulty. The eight-round light heavyweight bout made it to the third round when tragedy struck at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.
The 40-year-old, who held the Nigerian light heavyweight title in 2021, never regained consciousness. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and unfortunately couldn’t be saved by doctors as he was too far gone.
Nigeria Boxing Board of Control Secretary Remi Aboderin released a statement in the aftermath of the bout staged on March 28.
“We are really devastated,” Aboderin told the BBC. “[This] is not something we envisaged. We will live up to our responsibility and make sure that we stand by the family.”
The Ghana Boxing Authority [GBA] attempted to deflect blame by focusing on the boxer’s pre-fight medicals.
“Oluwasegun was declared medically fit by the Nigerian Boxing Board Control with his certification as a professional boxer before the GBA sanctioned and approved the international contest.
“Oluwasegun, a few seconds before the end of round three, stepped back during the fight and leaned on the ropes with his back without any punch whatsoever from his opponent.
“The referee, Richard Amevi, sensing danger, waved his hand for the end of the fight and immediately invited the ringside physician, with the support of paramedics from the national ambulance service, to attend to the boxer to help resuscitate him.
“The GBA President reported the incident to the Korle Bu Police Station.
“The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, was formally informed by the GBA President of the unfortunate incident,” they added.
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Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, an experienced boxing writer and World Boxing News Editor since 2010.