Former Nigerian boxer, Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Okorodudu, has died on Wednesday night at 64, after battling with foot ulcer that left him bedridden for weeks.
His death was confirmed by his wife, Adenike, who said he died at a private hospital in Lawanson, Lagos
Adenike, however, said the hospital won’t release 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.
Secretary-General, Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and the President, West Africa Boxing Union, Remi Aboderin, also confirmed that the Olympian had passed away.
“It is true about his death. I just confirmed it after you called me and I reached out to some colleagues,” Aboderin said.
“It is unfortunate that he died this way, and I am actually lost for words. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Okorodudu represented Nigeria at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games in the middleweight category.
He was a gold medallist at the Oluyole 1979 National Sports Festival in Ibadan.
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.
However, his health deteriorated after he was diagnosed with foot ulcer and suffered a stroke.
