By Akinwale Kasali
The Nigerian Sports Industry has been thrown into mourning following the demise of Nigerian Boxer and Olympian, Jerry Okorodudu.
The pugilist had been bedridden for a long time before succumbing to the cold hands of death.
Okorodudu represented Nigeria at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, where he competed in the middleweight category.
He was a gold medallist at the Oluyole 1979 National Sports Festival in Ibadan.
Announcing his demise, his wife, Adenike Okorodudu said that the Olympian died after a long battle with foot cancer.
Sadly, the corpse of the veteran Boxer is yet to be released to the family following the debt incurred in medical bills in the cause of the treatment of the late Okorodudu amounting to N600,000. The Hospital withheld the corpse.
The wife cried out for help, and said that even though her husband had died, she still needs to pay N600,000 to get his body out of the hospital.
The 64-Year Old was recuperating after being transferred from one hospital to the other due to paucity of funds, before he was brought to the Lawanson hospital where he passed on.
It would be recalled that the Late Boxer’s medical predicament began in 2020 with a boil affliction that affected his mobility. He then had a successful surgery at Dans Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Remi Aboderin, Secretary-General, Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and the President, West Africa Boxing Union, also confirmed the passing of the Olympian.
Confirming his demise, Aboderin said, “It is true about his death. I just confirmed it after you called me and I reached out to some colleagues.
“It is unfortunate that he died this way, and I am actually lost for words. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Anazia Omo-Agege, Vice President, Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF, also confirm the incident, saying that his death has left a vacuum in the nation’s boxing history.
Omo-Agege said that he had sent his wife some money on Tuesday for the hospital bills of the former boxer.
“I just sent them money yesterday (Tuesday). I sent them N100,000 and we were planning for the amputation (of his leg) on Friday, this is very sad,” he said.
