A former Nigerian popular boxer, Jeremiah’ Jerry’ Okorodudu, died at a private hospital in Lawanson, Lagos State, on Wednesday, June 28, night after battling a foot ulcer that left him bedridden for several weeks.
Okorodudu’s wife, Adenike, confirmed the sad news of his death to The PUNCH.
However, Adenike disclosed that the hospital still holds onto her husband’s corpse until the outstanding N600,000 medical bill is paid.
“He is dead now, but we still need to pay N600,000 to get his body out of the hospital,” Adenike said.
He was aged 64.
Just last week, there were reports that the Olympian felt better following several transfers from different hospitals, mainly due to lack of funds, before he was brought to the Lawanson Hospital.
Secretary-General Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and the President of West Africa Boxing Union, Remi Aboderin, also confirmed that the Olympian had passed away.
The Vice President of Nigeria Boxing Federation, Azania Omo-Agege, also said he sent his wife some money on Tuesday for the hospital bills of the former boxer.
Okorodudu represented Nigeria at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, where he competed in the middleweight category.
He was a gold medallist at Oluyole 1979 National Sports Festival in Ibadan, Oyo state.
Politics Nigeria recalls that his medical predicament began in 2020 with a boil affliction that affected his mobility. He then had a successful surgery at Dans Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos.
But his health condition relapsed after he was diagnosed with a foot ulcer and suffered a stroke.
