Audio By Carbonatix
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has pledged to set up a committee to investigate circumstances that lead to the death of Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju.
The former West African light heavyweight champion passed away following an abrupt stoppage in the third round of his bout against Ghana’s Jonathan Mbanugu at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday.
Speaking on Accra-based Sporty FM, Kofi Adams said ''we have only began the process, we need to institute a committee to go into what happened. I have assured all that nothing will be covered, we will ask all the questions that must be asked.''
''We hope that if the Nigerian side and the Ghanaian side will cooperate with the team that will be put in place to investigate this matter.''
Since the unfortunate incident, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBC) and the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) have maintained their innocence.
On Monday, 31st March, the GBA distanced itself from allegations of negligence, insisting that ''Oluwasegun was declared medically fit by the Nigeria Boxing Board Control with his certification as a professional boxer before the GBA sanctioned and approved the international contest.''
Before the day was over, their Nigerian counterparts, the NBBC, accused the GBA of a fatal error.
''He wanted more and the people said they will not be paying more than that. Eventually, Segun said he wasn’t going to fight again and was taken from the venue of the fight on Friday evening to the hotel so that he can leave for Nigeria on Saturday morning.''
''The boxer and his coach were already back on their way to Nigeria…before a call came and they now said they were ready to increase or pay what he was asking for as extra, and that there is a fight on Saturday night in Ghana and their fight will be put on that fight.''
''Segun and his trainer came back and that is where GBA erred. They shouldn’t have allowed him to fight on Saturday because. The rules of this game is that, do weigh in on Thursday and fight the following day not weigh in on Thursday and fight two days after; that is where GBA erred and it’s a big mistake,'' Oluremi Aboderin, Secretary-General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control told JoySports.
Adams said these concerns would be addressed after an investigation.
Latest Stories
-
Religious Affairs Ministry begins national database of shrines, religious sites
9 minutes -
GMA pushes for implementation of port optimisation measures at Tema Port
15 minutes -
Public sector reform must prioritise staff welfare – Civil Service head
19 minutes -
LEAP expansion brings relief to 4,372 more vulnerable residents in Jirapa
26 minutes -
President Ruto’s State backing fuels Nairobi’s historic 2029 World Athletics Championships bid
30 minutes -
Veep commissions five envoys, charges them to advance Ghana’s interests abroad
30 minutes -
19-year-old man jailed 15 years for robbery at Asokore Mampong
33 minutes -
Woman killed, 14 injured after vehicles collide on Accra–Kumasi highway
49 minutes -
Regulatory burden threatens SME growth, job creation – ILAPI study
50 minutes -
22-year-old man sentenced to 10 years for robbery in Kumasi
53 minutes -
EOCO inaugurates new audit committee to strengthen financial oversight
56 minutes -
Mahama pledges to expand STEM education, complete stalled UTAS laboratory
58 minutes -
Mahama urges Ghanaians to embrace home visits under Free Primary Healthcare programme
1 hour -
Stable cedi, falling inflation creating room for stronger credit growth – BoG Governor
1 hour -
Tourism Minister orders removal of illegal structures around forts and castles
1 hour