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The Ghanaian was beaten by Jacob Dickson in eight rounds in Accra on September 12.
According to local reports, Akushey complained of feeling unwell on Monday, September 22.
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His condition deteriorated rapidly overnight – leading to his passing on September 23 – only 11 days after his last fight.
Akushey was 6-0 at one point but suffered his first loss in May – a stoppage defeat to Jonathan Tetteh.
In his final fight against Dickson, Akushey took several blows to the head following a series of right hands before he dropped to the floor.
Following his sad passing, tributes poured in as WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman released a statement.
Sulaiman said: “The WBC mourns this irreparable loss and extends our deepest sympathies to Ernest’s family and many friends.”
Dickson, who defeated Akushey, also took to social media to share his grief.
“I’m deeply shaken and heartbroken to hear about the passing of Ernest Akushey (Bahubali),” he wrote on Instagram.
“Though we stood on opposite sides, I always recognised your strength, your courage, and the fire in your spirit. We may have been opponents, but you earned my respect in every way that mattered.
“To know that you are no longer here … it feels unreal. It’s a heavy loss — not just to those who knew and loved you, but to everyone who ever witnessed your fight, your heart, your humanity.
“Life can be cruel in its timing. One moment we clash as rivals, the next we mourn as humans. ️May your soul rest peacefully bro.”
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Akushey made his professional debut in 2019 and boxed all of his career out of Ghana.
He becomes the fourth boxer to pass away in the aftermath of a fight in 2025 alone.
Irishman John Cooney died in February just seven days after losing to Welshman Nathan Howells.
Cooney suffered an intracranial haemorrhage and had surgery to relieve pressure on his brain – but passed a week after the bout.
In August, tragedy struck in Japan when two fighters from the same event passed away.
Shigetoshi Kotari suffered a bleed to the brain after going 12 rounds with Yamato Hata – which ended in a draw.
On August 8, just five days after the fight, Kotari was pronounced dead.
Hiromasa Urakawa fought on the same bill and was knocked out in round eight by Yoji Saito.
Urakawa also suffered a bleed to the brain and died on August 9.
In 2024, four boxers passed away including Britain’s Sherif Lawal, who was tragically knocked out by Malam Varela on his pro debut.
This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.
