The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), Remi Aboderin, has provided insight into the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the death of Nigerian boxer Segun.
According to Aboderin, Segun had received approval to fight in Ghana, with the bout originally scheduled for a Friday. However, during the weigh-in on Thursday, he was found to be overweight, making him ineligible to fight his scheduled opponent.
The organizers offered to increase his purse by $500 to make adjustments, but Segun declined, deeming the amount insufficient.
By Saturday morning, while traveling back to Lagos with his coach, Diran Alamu, Segun expressed concerns about his financial situation. He had left Nigeria without money, was in debt, and urgently needed funds.
Desperate for a fight, he reconsidered the $500 offer and contacted the Ghanaian matchmakers.
The matchmaker informed him of a fight that same Saturday night, which Segun agreed to despite not having official approval from the NBBofC. He returned to Ghana in hopes of securing the fight and earning some money.
The NBBofC has since noted that the Ghana Boxing Association (GBA) erred in allowing the fight without proper authorization.
Segun’s untimely passing is a tragic reminder of the financial struggles faced by many athletes. May his soul rest in peace.
