Lagos/Accra — October 21, 2025 — After a tumultuous year away from the ring, two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is reportedly weighing a comeback — and Africa may soon see one of the biggest boxing nights on the continent.
Joshua, 35, has spent the past months recovering from the shocking knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 and undergoing elbow surgery. (World Boxing News) Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Joshua is “back in training and locked in” while plans for his next fight begin to take shape. (Archyde)
Why Africa?
For Joshua — born in Watford but of Nigerian descent, with a tattoo of Nigeria’s map on his shoulder — fighting in Africa has been a long-held ambition. Nigerian promoter Ezekiel Adamu has revealed early-stage talks with Joshua’s camp to stage the heavyweight star’s next bout in Nigeria, targeting early 2026. (The Guardian Nigeria)
Adamu emphasises:
“Joshua has always said that before he ends his career, he wants to fight in Nigeria… We believe Nigeria is the best story.” (dailysportsng.com)
Other African countries are also in the mix — Ghana has actively courted Joshua and is hosting major boxing promotion debut in December 2025, which could serve as a precursor for his African return. (TalkSport)
Which Opponents Are Being Considered?
Joshua’s team is reportedly considering several options, including:
Martin Bakole — Congolese heavyweight and former sparring partner, viewed as a credible opponent for a Nigeria-based fight. (Sky Sports)
Deontay Wilder — American heavyweight with African heritage, another name on the list though seen as more ambitious at this stage. (ThisDayLive)
Kingsley Ibeh — Nigerian-born heavyweight based in the USA, publicly calling for the fight to happen in Nigeria. (Sky Sports)
Hearn has made clear that although Liberia or Ghana remain possibilities, the plan must include a venue and opponent worthy of Joshua’s status. A return fight in Africa would have both sentimental and commercial weight. (Sky Sports)
The Stakes — For Joshua and Africa
For Joshua: A fight in Africa would mark a symbolic homecoming. After his title defeat and surgery, a well-staged comeback would rebuild momentum and reposition him for the top tier of the heavyweight division.
For Africa (and Nigeria in particular): Landing Joshua would signal the continent’s readiness to host world-class boxing events. With Nigeria’s large population and economic potential, promoters see this as a chance to shift the boxing map. Adamu described Nigeria as “the heartbeat of Africa” when making the pitch. (Businessday NG)
Road Blocks and Realities
But the path is not without obstacles. Among them:
Timing & readiness: Joshua has been inactive for nearly 18 months. A return in early 2026 would require physical and mental sharpness. Hearn has down-played any rush. (World Boxing News)
Venue & logistics: Hosting a fight of this magnitude in Africa involves infrastructure, regulatory approvals, broadcast rights, and security—all of which must be firmly in place.
Opponent choice: To maintain credibility, Joshua cannot simply fight a weak opponent on home soil; the challenge must match his legacy. Hearn has stressed this. (ThisDayLive)
Boxing competition: The heavyweight landscape continues evolving. For Joshua, the African bout may serve as a stepping-stone toward a larger showdown (some still mention Tyson Fury) but he must re-establish himself first. (badlefthook.com)
Mood, Voice, and What It Means
There’s a charged optimism in the air among African boxing fans. The idea of Joshua returning home to fight under African skies inspires both pride and hope. It’s not just about a single punch-up but about a continent reclaiming heavyweight boxing relevance. For Nigeria especially, the possibility of staging Joshua’s fight carries dreams of international attention, economic activity and renewed sports culture.
Joshua himself appears focused, driven by the twin goals of redemption and legacy. The return won’t just be about titles—it will be about identity, heritage and making a statement.
What to Watch For
Official confirmation of venue and date (early 2026 in Africa).
Announcement of opponent — whether Bakole, Wilder, Ibeh or another.
Broadcast/venue logistics — especially whether Nigerian or Ghanaian stadiums are selected.
Joshua’s training updates and his team’s strategic build-up are likely to ramp up in next weeks.
Bottom line: Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring is shaping into more than a comeback. If it lands in Africa, it could become a landmark moment for the continent’s boxing history — and Nigeria could be strolling into the spotlight.
