By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana’s boxing fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of rising fighter Ernest Akushey, popularly known as “Bahubali”.
The 27-year-old passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, September 23, 2025, barely a week after suffering a punishing defeat in the ring.
Akushey, who honed his craft at the famed Wadada Gym in James Town, had built a reputation as a crowd-pleaser with a ferocious style that earned him the nickname “Bahubali,” after the heroic warrior in the hit Indian film. He once carried an unblemished 6-0 record that made him one of Ghana’s brightest boxing prospects.
His final outing came on Saturday, September 13, in a much-anticipated super middleweight showdown against rising contender Jacob Dickson at the Bukom Boxing Arena. The fight ended in heartbreak, as Dickson dominated the contest before stopping Akushey with an eighth-round technical knockout (TKO).
Videos of the bout that circulated widely showed Akushey struggling under relentless pressure, drawing sympathy from fans who now see those images in a tragic light.
According to reports from James Town TV and Africabox Showup, Akushey fell ill on Monday, September 22, complaining of undisclosed symptoms that worsened overnight. He was pronounced dead around 2 a.m. the following morning. Family sources suspect internal injuries from the fight may have contributed to his passing, though an official autopsy is yet to confirm the cause.
Tributes have since poured in from boxing enthusiasts, fans, and members of the James Town community, where Akushey’s rise from the gym to national recognition had inspired many young fighters.
His death adds to the long and painful history of Ghanaian boxing tragedies, reigniting calls for stronger medical protocols and post-fight monitoring to protect athletes in the sport.
