Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) came under heavy criticism following the death of 32-year-old Ghanaian boxer, Ernest Akushey aka Bahubali, just eleven days after a bout.

Although the family and the Authority have yet to officially confirm the exact cause of his death, fans and other stakeholders have expressed concerns about the welfare of boxers, the effectiveness and implementation of safety measures, and the enforcement of boxing protocols, especially to protect rising talents like Ernest.

Many speculated that GBA’s approval for Ernest to fight Dickson was a clear mismatch given the one-sided show witnessed during the bout, where the latter showed clear dominance right from the beginning to the end, where he was finally declared winner.

However, in response, the interim head of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), in an interview with Gideon Okyere Anim (Gattuso) on Original TV, urged Ghanaians to reconsider their focus on the boxing authorities and instead direct their criticism at Bahubali’s family.

“The family should have sought professional medical care instead of taking him to a prayer camp. It’s a sad situation, but we cannot shift the blame to the GBA or the National Sports Authority (NSA) when medical negligence was the issue,” he noted.

Bahubali's sister, in an interview with GhanaWeb, revealed that a few days after her brother's fight with Dickson, he took ill and was taken to a pastor for prayers. Following the pastor's prayers, he advised the family to seek medical care for the boxer at Korle-Bu; an advice they heeded not.

According to his sister, they took him to another pastor at Teshie for more prayers, following which they noticed the boxer had gotten better until she realised her brother had begun shrinking. It was then that they rushed him to Korle-Bu, where he was placed on oxygen; however, after some hours, he succumbed and was prepared for the morgue.

In a separate interview with JoySports, Banor said:

“Together with the medical team of the Ghana Boxing Authority, we are putting together a structure that just after fights, [after a few days], you will be asked to see the medical department so they can take care of you.”

He also expressed GBA's commitment to ensuring the safety of boxers before every bout.

“There are medical protocols before and after each bout, and we shall continue to ensure that all boxers are fit to fight, as has been the practice ”.

Banor also addressed the controversy surrounding the NSA’s blanket ban on boxing activities, where he urged Ghanaians to ignore the information.

“There has not been any official communication to that effect, and I will implore the general public to disregard any such information. We were in a meeting with the NSA yesterday, and nothing of such sort came up for discussion,” he clarified.

About Bahubali’s death

Some reports suggest that doctors have confirmed Akushey died from internal bleeding and malaria.

Reports from James Town TV and Africabox Showup indicate that Ernest Akushey passed away on Tuesday, September 23, after being rushed to LEKMA Hospital following complaints of unspecified symptoms on Monday.The symptoms are said to have worsened, and around 2 am the following day, he was confirmed dead.

Bahubali's death comes barely a week after he suffered a thrashing defeat in a bout with rising opponent Jacob Dickson at the Bukom Boxing Arena, which took place on Saturday, September 13, 2025.

Fans braved early morning rain to attend the event at Bukom Boxing Arena, which was part of the “Monaco – The Night To Prove” boxing showcase.

According to reports, the bout appeared to have favoured Akishey’s opponent as he dominated right from the beginning until he clinched his victory when the final bell rang with an eighth-round technical knockout (TKO).

Widely circulated videos of the fight showed Akushey struggling under relentless pressure, sparking sympathy among fans even before the tragic news of his death.

Consequently, many have speculated that the heavy punches he received during his last fight might have caused him some internal injuries, which have led to his death. However, the family has presented no official autopsy report to support this claim.

A video which was trending on social media after Akushey’s death captures former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey talking to Ernest “Bahubali” Akushey after the bout with Dickson. It was about time he decided, as he wasn’t fit enough to continue in the sport, which warned him of imminent health problems.

“Bahubali, it's about time that you made a decision. I have told you to stop boxing. The reason I told you that is because I know you feed from boxing. I don't know when you started fighting, but up to where you have gotten to now. But you need to make a decision and know what you're doing because those small punches in the games, and you're falling. You're going to many wars, and you might not realise the effects today, but in the future, when you grow,” he warned.

According to reports, Akushey collapsed after his bout with Dickson, with many speculating that their bout was a mismatch and a one-sided affair, given the dominance of Akushey’s opponent right from the start tothe finish.

Akushey, who rose through the ranks at the Wadada Gym in James Town, was once an undefeated prospect with a 6-0-0 record.

He earned his “Bahubali” moniker from his ferocious, crowd-pleasing style, likened to the warrior hero in the Indian blockbuster film.

“Bahubali’s” death marks the second case at Bukom. The first death linked to Bukom was that of a Nigerian, Segun "Success" Olanrewaju, who died after collapsing in the ring in the middle of a professional bout with a Ghanaian opponent, Jon Mbanug, at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday night, March 29, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, where the 40-year-old fighter Olanrewaju, a former holder of both the Nigerian and West African light-heavyweight titles, had been putting on a strong performance before suddenly losing consciousness mid-fight.

Spectators and officials watched in horror as medical personnel rushed in to provide emergency assistance.

A widely shared video of the match shows the moment he collapsed, leaving fans and members of the boxing community in shock.

Meanwhile, three months after Success' death, President Mahama's son, Sharaf Mahama, in partnership with Sharaf-led sports management company, Legacy Rise Sports, successfully organised a boxing tournament - Battle of the Beasts at the Bukom Sporting Arena.

At a press conference held at the Multichoice Office in Achimota, Mr Mahama expressed his commitment to giving Ghanaian boxers the global exposure they deserve.

He commended all the foreign boxers who travelled to Ghana to be part of the event and extended gratitude to the sponsors and partners who are making the night possible.

Renowned trainer Coach Ofori Asare of Wisdom Boxing Gym highlighted the importance of fair officiating, especially in the highly anticipated bout between his fighter, Theo Allotey (aka Lopez), and Daniel Selassie Gorsh, who will be defending his WBO Africa Bantamweight title.

Asare described Allotey as a seasoned fighter whose experience and transition from amateur to professional ranks make him the right contender for the title.

“Boxing is not about trash talk—it’s about delivering in the ring,” Asare said, adding that his fighters are ready to impress fans with dominant performances.

Also on the card, Haruna Mohammed (aka Thunder) was to defend his National Cruiserweight Title against Abdulai Ahmed from Fit Square Gym.

Coach Carl Lokko of Bronx Boxing Club emphasised his gym’s reputation as the “house of champions,” stating that although his boxers often miss out on amateur national team selections, they consistently shine at the professional level.

In his brief but confident remarks, reigning WBO Africa champion Daniel Gorsh promised fireworks, declaring, “On the D-day, we shall see who is who.”

The main attraction of the night will see Ghana’s Jacob Dickson (aka The Beast) face off against American fighter Andrew Tabiti (also nicknamed The Beast) in a fierce contest for the WBC Africa Bridgerweight Title—a bout that has sparked major excitement among fans.

Another fan-favourite clash featured Abubakar Kamoko (aka Bukom Tilapia), son of the legendary Bukom Banku, taking on Stephen Ackon in an energetic, powerful, and passionate clash.