British-Nigerian boxing icon Anthony Joshua is on course to fulfil his long-held dream of fighting in Nigeria, as plans are underway to stage his first professional bout on African soil in early 2026.
According to promoter Ezekiel Adamu, CEO of Balmoral Promotions, discussions with Joshua’s camp have reached an advanced stage, with both sides expressing enthusiasm about a landmark showdown. The bout is expected to take place at the 50,000-capacity Abuja Stadium and would mark a historic moment for Nigerian sports and African boxing.
“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 revealed to The Ring magazine. “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, the mastermind behind Nigeria’s upcoming “Chaos in the Ring” show scheduled for October 1 in Lagos, described the proposed Joshua fight as part of a broader vision to transform Nigeria into a global boxing hub.
He added that several African or African-descendant heavyweights are being considered as potential opponents, including Tony Yoka, Martin Bakole, and Deontay Wilder—who has also expressed interest in fighting in Africa.
Dismissing rumors about a possible bout in Ghana, Adamu said, “I laughed it off because, for me, where is the story in there? Joshua is Nigerian. Nigeria is the biggest market. It’s a no-brainer for Joshua to fight here.”
Born in Watford, Joshua spent part of his childhood in Nigeria and even has the country’s map tattooed on his right shoulder. Promoter Eddie Hearn has previously floated the idea of Joshua fighting in Africa, but this marks the first concrete step toward making it a reality.
Adamu believes Nigeria’s infrastructure, population, and technical capacity position it as a future heavyweight boxing powerhouse. “October 1 is just a sneak peek of what’s possible. We have big plans coming,” he said.
If confirmed, the 2026 bout would be a watershed moment for African boxing, bringing the global spotlight to Nigeria and potentially opening the door to more high-profile fights on the continent.
