Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to make history with his first professional fight in Africa, with the Nigerian government backing the landmark event.
Dr. Ezekiel Adamu, Chief Executive Officer of Balmoral Group, confirmed that he has held talks with Anthony Joshua’s camp, with the Abuja National Stadium, which holds 50,000 spectators, being considered as the likely venue.
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“We are going to get Anthony Joshua,” Adamu revealed.
“I spoke with him and his team, and they told me, ‘If we had an offer from Nigeria, it’s a match made in heaven.’ Joshua has always said that before he ends his career, he wants to fight in Nigeria, and we are going to make that fight happen.”
Potential opponents being considered include fellow Africans Tony Yoka and Martin Bakole, while former WBC champion Deontay Wilder has also expressed openness to an African bout.
The mega-fight is being lined up for 2026, and Adamu stressed that it would showcase Nigeria as a major destination for global boxing.
Balmoral Group, in partnership with Amir Khan Promotions, is also staging “Chaos in the Ring”; Africa’s biggest-ever boxing event on October 1, 2025, Nigeria’s Independence Day, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
The fight card will feature former British, Commonwealth, and European light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez, among others, and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
Adamu noted that Nigeria’s infrastructure, technical capacity, and huge market potential make the country a natural hub for world-class boxing.
“We see October 1 as just a sneak peek of what Nigeria is capable of,” Adamu said.
“We have the population, the infrastructure, and the know-how to host the very best. Joshua’s homecoming fight will be the ultimate showcase.”
