Anthony Joshua is on track to finally realize his dream of fighting in Nigeria, with plans underway to stage the heavyweight star’s first bout in Africa in early 2026.
Promoter Dr. Ezekiel Adamu, CEO of Balmoral Group, revealed that talks with Joshua’s camp have been very encouraging and that a historic homecoming fight is being targeted for the first quarter of next year.
“I spoke with him, I spoke with his team, and they already said to me, ‘If we had an offer from Nigeria, it’s a match made in heaven,’” Adamu told The Ring. “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.”
Adamu said the bout is likely to take place at the 50,000-capacity Abuja Stadium and will feature an all-African clash. Potential opponents being considered include Tony Yoka, Martin Bakole, and Deontay Wilder, who has also expressed interest in an African fight.
He dismissed speculation that the match could happen in Ghana, stressing that Nigeria is the natural home for the event. “I heard rumours about Joshua fighting in Ghana, and I laughed it off because, for me, where is the story in there? Joshua is Nigerian,” he said.
“Now we have a big promotion and Nigeria is the biggest market. It’s a no-brainer for Joshua to fight in Nigeria.”
Though born in Watford, Joshua spent part of his childhood in Nigeria and proudly sports a tattoo of the country’s map on his right shoulder as a tribute to his heritage.
Adamu said Nigeria has everything it needs to become a major hub for heavyweight boxing. “We’ve got the population, we’ve got the infrastructure, and we’ve got the technical know-how. This is just the start,” he added.
He described the upcoming “Chaos in the Ring” event in Lagos on October 1 as a preview of what is to come, promising that bigger shows are being planned.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has previously floated the idea of an African fight, but Adamu’s announcement signals the most concrete step yet toward making it a reality — one that could mark a defining moment for African boxing and open the door to more high-profile bouts on the continent.
