Fourth Boxer Dies a Year After Fight: Details of the Tragedy in Ghana.

Tragic Deaths of Boxers

According to The Sun: Boxer Ernest Akushey passed away at the age of 27, just a few days after his match.

The Ghanaian suffered a defeat against Jacob Dixon in the eighth round in Accra on September 12.

According to local reports, Akushey began to feel unwell on September 22, just ten days after the fight. His condition rapidly worsened, and he died on September 23 – only 11 days after his last bout.

Akushey had a record of 6-0 but suffered his first loss in May against Jonathan Tetehi. In the final fight against Dixon, he received several hard hits to the head before falling to the floor.

Following his tragic death, many tributes emerged. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman issued a statement.

Sulaiman said: “The WBC mourns this irreparable loss and extends our deepest sympathies to Ernest’s family and many friends.”

Akushey made his professional debut in 2019 and fought his entire career in Ghana. He became the fourth boxer to die after a fight in 2025.

This winter, Irishman John Cooney also passed away just seven days after losing a fight to Welshman Nathan Hawels. Cooney suffered from intracranial hemorrhage and underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, but unfortunately, his life could not be saved.

Tragic Incidents in Japan

In August, two tragedies occurred in Japan when boxers from the same tournament died. Shigetoshi Kotari suffered a brain hemorrhage after 12 rounds with Yamato Hata, which ended in a draw. Unfortunately, just five days after the fight, Kotari was declared dead.

Hiromasa Urakawa, who participated in that same tournament, was knocked out in the eighth round by Yōji Saito and also suffered a brain hemorrhage. He died on August 9.

In 2024, four boxers died, including British boxer Sherif Laval, who unfortunately was knocked out by Malamo Varela during his debut fight.

These tragic events highlight the dangers of professional boxing and the risks that athletes face. The death of Ernest Akushey and other boxers serves as a reminder of the necessity of thorough health monitoring of athletes and the possibility of providing medical assistance after matches. Boxing remains one of the most brutal disciplines, where every punch can have fateful consequences.