British-Nigerian heavyweight star Anthony Joshua is set to realise his long-held dream of fighting in Nigeria, with plans underway for a homecoming bout in early 2026.
Promoter Dr. Ezekiel Adamu, CEO of Balmoral Group and organiser of the upcoming “Chaos in the Ring” event on October 1 in Lagos, revealed that talks with Joshua’s camp have been “overwhelmingly positive.”
“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 disclosed that the fight is likely to be staged at the 50,000-capacity Abuja Stadium, with an all-African contest being considered. Possible opponents include Tony Yoka, Martin Bakole, or even Deontay Wilder, who has Nigerian heritage and has also expressed interest in fighting on the continent.
He dismissed speculation about Ghana hosting the fight, insisting Nigeria is the natural venue for the two-time world heavyweight champion.
“I heard rumours about Joshua fighting in Ghana, and I laughed it off. For me, where is the story in there? Joshua is Nigerian. Nigeria is the biggest market. It’s a no-brainer,” Adamu said.
Born in Watford, Joshua spent part of his childhood in Nigeria and proudly carries a tattoo of the country’s outline on his right shoulder.
Adamu stressed that Nigeria has the infrastructure and talent to become a global boxing hub, adding that the October 1 Lagos showcase is just a preview of bigger things to come.
“We’ve got the population, we’ve got the infrastructure, and we’ve got the technical know-how,” he said. “This is just the start.”
Joshua’s longtime promoter, Eddie Hearn, has previously floated the idea of the heavyweight returning to Africa for a professional fight, but the prospect had remained speculative—until now.
If finalised, the 2026 homecoming would mark a historic milestone for African boxing, potentially opening the door for more high-profile bouts on the continent.
