Homecoming King: Anthony Joshua Fight Nigeria 2026 Talks Underway for Sensational Africa Debut

Boxing fans across Nigeria may soon witness a historic event, as preliminary talks are underway to bring former unified world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, back to his ancestral home for a professional fight.

Following his last fight in September 2024 and subsequent injury sideline, the British-Nigerian boxer—often referred to as the “Sagamu Man”—is exploring potential venues for his highly anticipated comeback, with Nigeria being the primary focus.

A Long-Awaited Return
Joshua has long spoken about his desire to fulfill his career dream of fighting on the African continent. Promoter Dr. Ezekiel Adamu, who recently staged a major boxing event in Lagos, confirmed that preliminary conversations are in motion.

“We all know AJ has always said he wants to fight in Africa before the end of his career, and we believe Nigeria is the best story,” Adamu told Sky Sports News.

Dr. Adamu further revealed that the target timeline for this historic event is the first quarter of 2026 (Q1), with Lagos being the preferred host city.

Why Nigeria? The Market Potential
Nigeria, with its massive population, represents an enormous, untapped market for world-class boxing. According to the promoter, the country is poised to host big boxing nights.

“Nigeria is the economic capital of Africa. We are poised to make this happen and show the world that Africa can host big boxing nights,” Adamu stated.

Should the event materialize, it would mark the “Sagamu Man’s” professional debut on African soil, fulfilling a promise and creating a monumental moment in both boxing and Nigerian sports history. Meanwhile, Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole has already volunteered to step up as a potential opponent for the Anthony Joshua Fight Nigeria 2026 card.