By Darlington Onedibe
Veteran Nigerian sports journalist and celebrated boxing pundit, Trigo Egbegi, has passed away. He died on Sunday morning at approximately 10:00 AM after a brief illness.
​The announcement was made by his younger brother, Mr. Alfred Egbegi, Publisher of Izon Link, who revealed that the veteran journalist succumbed to a sudden, severe stomach ailment.
​According to the family statement, Mr. Egbegi had complained of severe stomach pains on Friday but showed signs of optimism after receiving first-aid treatment. He was reportedly in good spirits on Sunday morning, even exchanging pleasantries with neighbors heading to church, before tragically collapsing shortly afterward. Plans had been made to take him to the hospital later that day if the symptoms persisted.
​Popularly known as “Mr. Boxing,” Trigo Egbegi was a towering figure in Nigerian sports media during the golden era of print and broadcast journalism. Over his illustrious career, he served as Sports Editor for several of Nigeria’s most prestigious flagship national dailies, including National Concord, The Guardian, The Republic, Sports Link, and Sportsworld.
​Beyond the newsroom, Egbegi achieved nationwide fame as the host of the hit Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) program, “Big Fights of the Decade.” The weekly, hour-long show captivated millions of viewers across the country and cemented his reputation as Nigeria’s foremost authority on professional boxing.
​His expertise and media prominence took him across the globe, most notably to the United States, where he interviewed some of the greatest boxing icons in history, including the legendary Muhammad Ali, Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard.
​Tributes have begun pouring in from the media and sports community, mourning the loss of a pioneering writer and broadcaster whose work defined sports reporting for a generation.
​Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in due course.
