After boxer Chukwuemeka Igboanugo passed away on Tuesday at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State, a boxing coach has criticized the medical staff at the location for their care and inaction that may have saved the athlete’s life.
Igboanugo, a fighter for Imo State, is reported to have collapsed during their 86 kg match after taking multiple punches to the chin from Gaby Amagor of Anambra.
After he was unable to recover, the referee then declared the fight over.
“He was immediately taken out of the ring for medical treatment before being rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead,” a boxing official stated.
Endurance Aberegidi, the Borno State coach who was present when the boxer was knocked down, however, described what transpired in the ring on Monday and how the boxer passed away to the media.“It was a pathetic situation. These guy trained for years and after getting a national opportunity, he then dies in the ring,” he said.
“I was in the ring side when he fell and the medics rushed in and tried to revive him. He slightly responded and they took him to the emergency unit, then they asked for the boxer’s coach.
“I walked up to them and they told me that the boy was not responding to treatment,” Aberegidi said.
The coach explained tothe media how much time they wasted looking for the Imo coach rather than treating Igboanugo right away. He said, “They were looking for the coach for over 20 minutes as the boy was not responding to treatment. I don’t know why they wasted so much time to treat the boy. They should have focused on treating him. They said the boy didn’t allow anyone to treat him and after a short while, they came back and said he had given up the ghost.”
Israel Makinde, a boxer from Lagos State, expressed regret over Igboanugo’s passing. “It’s weird, it’s so painful. But I am not scared, I think you must be aware of your health before the fight and so I am trying to prepare for my semi-final clash in the flyweight tomorrow,” he said.
