British‐Nigerian heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has expressed his long‐held aspiration to fight in Nigeria—and plans are already in motion to make it happen in early 2026.
Promoter Ezekiel Adamu told The Ring that negotiations between Joshua’s camp and organizers in Nigeria have been “overwhelmingly positive.” According to Adamu, Joshua said, “If we had an offer from Nigeria, it’s a match made in heaven.”
Joshua has reportedly told close associates that before he ends his career, he wants to take to the ring on home soil: “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.”
The proposed venue is Abuja Stadium, which has a capacity of some 50,000. The bout is expected to be an all-African contest. Adamu revealed that potential opponents under consideration include Tony Yoka, Martin Bakole, and Deontay Wilder—who, though American, is of Nigerian descent—and could deliver the kind of matchup the fight requires. “For that, it would definitely be two Africans. So we are thinking Joshua against maybe Tony Yoka. There is Martin Bakole and Deontay Wilder, also of Nigerian descent, wants to do an African fight, too. There are different names,” Adamu said.
