Anthony Joshua (Image author: quapan taken from Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/hinkelstone/33963520180/

According to rising star Joe Joyce’s manager, his client is very much up for a big-ticket fight against Anthony Joshua. The potential venue of Nigeria is particularly tasty, with Joshua already declaring he would ‘definitely love to fight out there’. 

Joshua may have little choice in the matter, with Joyce’s meteoric rise seeing him a legit contender. He may become the mandatory challenger, leading to a world title fight in Nigeria. And would, in this case, the odds be on Joyce’s side, is still a matter of debate.

Nigeria is a Special Venue for Both Heavyweights

The African nation holds a special place for both fighters, both being of Nigerian descent. Joshua, originally from Watford, visited the country in 2019 and began to dream of an epic bout in Africa. He harked back to classic fights, including the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” featuring George Foreman and Muhammad Ali in 1974. 

Since then, he’s received countless messages from Nigerians begging him to come back. It struck a chord with the British fighter, with his visits to the ghettos saw him meet people who were hungry to survive, yet supporting him with positivity. 

Both of Joshua’s parents have Nigerian roots, and the fighter even wanted to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics. Boxing officials put a spanner in the works, however, rejecting the overtures.  

Yet the relationship between the British boxer and Nigeria remains strong, with Joshua helping to popularize the sport in the country of his ancestors, staying proud of his Nigerian heritage. He has had a big effect elsewhere also, boosting both boxing and betting on the sport in areas north of the continent like the Middle East and North Africa. 

We can see references to Joshua’s contribution to popularizing boxing in this region on websites like ArabianBetting, that are dedicated to providing insightful boxing information and boxing betting options. Here, besides explaining types of bets like fight winner and method of victory, we can also read about Joshua’s 2019 fight against Andy Ruiz, so popular in Saudi Arabia, that it was billed as “Clash on the Dunes” as the country was flooded by news about these two giants’ standoff.. 

Is a Fight in Nigeria Realistic? 

Will the fight happen? It’s possible, but it could also be a lot of hot air coming from Joyce’s agent. He’s certainly trying to drum up tabloid interest in his fighter, declaring that his client would be the perfect ‘dance partner’ for Joshua.

But he’s not limiting his options, also adding he would be more than happy to take on Tyson Fury in Las Vegas or in the UK. Joyce is happy to patiently wait it out, and see whether Joshua and Fury end up against each other. All he wants is to have an undisputed title fight. The matter of the opponent, he’s not too bothered about that. 

What would undoubtedly be an epic contest also depends on upcoming bouts. Joshua is set to defend his set of heavyweight belts (IBF, WBA, and WBO) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this upcoming September. His nemesis, Oleksandr Usyk, is certainly no slouch, and the result of the fight is by no means a foregone conclusion. 

Joyce, a Formidable Challenger 

Joyce has enjoyed a meteoric rise and remains undefeated. Will his run continue? We’ll find out soon, with the boxer slated to fight on July 24 against Carlos Takam. He’s certainly had some very good results, including absolutely destroying Daniel Dubois, who was previously undefeated himself. 

The win against Dubois did a lot for Joyce, giving him the European title and also letting him take over Dubois’ British and Commonwealth honors. Added to his 2016 Olympic silver medal, Joyce now has a formidable pedigree. 

The fight against Carlos Takam is a risky but necessary move. It will, however, put a guaranteed heavyweight title bout in danger, with a loss against the Frenchman putting Joyce out of contention. 

Takam will provide good opposition, with the Cameroon-born fighter going 10 rounds vs. Joshua. He’s also won his last four fights, including an impressive win against Jerry Forrest. 

Yet, Joyce is in a confident mood, claiming he will ‘run him (Takam) over’. This is a perfect set-up for Joyce, with manager Sam Jones saying his client is ready for more than just ‘fighting a no-hoper’. 

These are big words from his agent, and they’re designed to get the talk going. It’s building up Joe Joyce for a glorious victory or an epic downfall. Yet this is what boxing is all about, and what fans want to see. 

Joyce himself is also confident, citing his experience sparring with Joshua at the GB gym in Sheffield. He’s had hundreds of rounds against him, learning at every opportunity. Joyce says he knows his potential opponent’s every weakness, his strengths, and what he needs to do to come out victorious at the other side. 

Anthony Joshua: The Best in the Game? 

But it’s certainly not going to be easy. Joshua is still the ultimate fighter, speed and power combined. He’s also become a student of the game, investing time in watching other fighters, including old-school boxers. He’s a finely tuned machine, the consummate professional. 

Former fighter Tony Bellew calls him the best heavyweight athlete in decades, and that if he combines his raw physical capabilities, which have already brought him great success, with a high boxing IQ, he’ll be almost unbeatable. 

If this fight does happen, Anthony Joshua will be the strong favorite, whether you ask pundits, fans, or the bookies. He has the pedigree, experience, and is still improving. Athletically, there is no one who matches him. 

Yet we’ve seen favorites tumble in the past. And Joyce has certainly proven that he can fight at the top level, and his challenge would be more than real. Maybe we’re going a little too far, though, with both fighters still with big fights to come before we can even start to think about a clash in Nigeria. 

Will we see Joshua vs. Joyce? Or Fury vs. Joyce? Or will Takam put a huge dent in Sam Jones’ plans? We’ll find out in the next few months.