Ibadan Boxing Great Died Due To Lack Of Money- Oyo Boxing Boss

Chairman of Oyo State Amateur Boxing Association, Akintunde Opaleye, on Tuesday said boxing great, Dele Jonathan, died because of a lack of financial support to manage his poor health conditions.

The former Commonwealth champion died in his Ibadan home on Saturday after battling prostate enlargement for about seven years.

Opaleye, who frowned on the manner Nigeria treat its sporting heroes, described Jonathan as a committed boxer and coach, who even though was not celebrated by the country he represented, managed to contribute his quota to boxing development in Nigeria.


The boxing chief said but for poor health and a lack of regular support, Jonathan would have contributed more to Nigerian boxing because he was one of the most experienced coaches in the country.

Opaleye said, “We cannot describe his condition as abject poverty but he was always broke before he died. Jonathan belonged to the second generation of notable boxers in Nigeria that proved themselves on the international stage. He started as a local boxer but transformed into a renowned boxer.

“It is rather unfortunate that he found himself in this our environment, which does not support or honour its sporting heroes. When he retired, things went bad for him.”

He said Jonathan found himself in a more difficult situation when it was discovered that he had prostate enlargement.

“He had a medical condition that had to do with prostate, which took its toll on his health. Because of a lack of quality medical treatment and a lack of money, he suffered and died.”

Opaleye said the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and Multichoice/GOTV were those who came to the aid of the former boxing champion with cash donations.

“I took him to the Alaafin in 2014 and he gave him N300,000 to pay part of his medical bill. Multichoice/GOTV also organised an event and gave the gate takings to him as part of its own support towards the boxing hero’s health management."