The widow of late Nigerian boxer Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who tragically died in Ghana during a professional bout, has spoken out about the hardship and abandonment she has faced since his death.
In an emotional revelation with Sporty FM, she accused her late husband’s family of offering no support and instead taking the little he left behind.
“The family of my late husband didn’t give me any support after his death; the little he left, they collected it,” she said.
Olanrewaju collapsed during Fight Night 15 at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on March 9, 2025, in a light-heavyweight contest against Ghana’s Jon Mbanugu.
Though he was reportedly leading the bout, he slumped in the ring and could not be revived despite immediate medical attention.
He was later pronounced dead at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The widow, now left to care for their two young children, is struggling to cope both emotionally and financially.
“I have two children. The first one turned two years old recently, and the second is only 10 months old,” she explained. “Both are still adapting to their father’s death,” she added.
She also revealed that cultural obligations are being hindered by the long delay in the repatriation of her husband’s body, which has remained in Ghana for more than two months after his passing.
“I want them to bring my husband’s body back because I have some traditions to perform as a widow,” she said. “I can’t go out currently, and my business is suffering. It’s my father who takes care of me.”
The delay in returning Olanrewaju’s body has drawn sharp criticism from the President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBC), Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, who lashed out at the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and the Ghanaian government for what he called an unacceptable failure.
“It is the responsibility of the GBA and the Ghana government to repatriate the boxer’s body to Nigeria,” Dr. Ladipo said. “How can you keep a Nigerian boxer’s body in Ghana for two months?”
Olanrewaju, aged 40, was a seasoned fighter with a professional record of 13 wins (12 by knockout), nine losses, and two draws.
A former Nigerian and West African light-heavyweight champion, his death sent shockwaves through the boxing communities of both countries and reignited calls for stricter pre-fight medical screenings.
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