Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju has died after collapsing during a light heavyweight bout in Ghana on Saturday.

Oluwasegun, a former national and West African champion in his weight class, lost consciousness in the third round of his Ghana Professional Boxing League fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) confirmed the news of his death, stating that, after receiving first aid, he was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes after arrival.

The general secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Remi Aboderin, described Oluwasegun as a “fearless” fighter who died a “ring warrior”.

“We are really devastated,” Aboderin told BBC Sport Africa.

“[This] is not something we envisaged. We will live up to our responsibility and make sure that we stand [by] the family.”

Oluwasegun had an official record of 23 fights, with 13 victories and eight defeats, before his bout with Mbanugu.