British-born Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua has paid courtesy visit to the Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun. Joshua, an indigene of Ogun State is currently in Nigeria on holidays. In a video posted on X formerly Twitter, Joshua prostrated for the Ogun State helmsman, while both men exchanged pleasantries. “Today, we had the distinct honour of welcoming Anthony Joshua, the world-acclaimed boxing champion and a proud son of Ogun State, to our office during his courtesy visit. “Anthony Joshua’s remarkable achievements in the world of boxing continue to inspire not only the people of Ogun State but also millions across the globe. His dedication, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence are values we hold dear as a state. “This visit is a testament to the bond we share as a people and our collective pride in the success stories that emerge from Ogun State. We remain committed to supporting our talents and creating an environment that nurtures greatness in all spheres of life. “Together, we celebrate Anthony Joshua’s accomplishments and look forward to more victories as he continues to make Ogun State proud,” Governor Abiodun posted on his X handle. Meanwhile, Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has revealed the boxer will fight twice in the coming year. Joshua’s last fight came in September when he faced rising prospect Daniel Dubois in a bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. The 35-year-old entered the clash off the back of four impressive victories, including a vicious second-round KO of former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou in March. Ultimately though Dubois would hand AJ the fourth defeat of his professional career by stopping Joshua in the fifth round and defending his IBF title in the process. Joshua had been expected to rematch Dubois in early 2025 before he was convinced to recover from injuries and seek a return later in the year. Instead, Dubois will defend his title against perennial contender Joseph Parker in February on the undercard of the undisputed light heavyweight rematch between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Asked when fans can expect AJ’s return to the ring, Hearn revealed plans are tentatively in place. ‘In May or June,’ Hearn told iFL TV. ‘He’s not in full training yet. He’s probably ready to resume training in January.’ After Tyson Fury was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk for a second time earlier this month, Hearn championed the idea of a long-awaited showdown between the Gypsy King and Joshua. While he again hinted that the all-British showdown could finally take place in 2025, Hearn insisted that they would not rush into any future plans. He continued: ‘At the moment, you’ve got the Dubois fight on February 22nd. ‘And you’ve got to see what Fury wants to do. We’re not in a terrible rush. AJ will fight twice in 2025. Once in the summer and once in the winter. ‘If we can’t make the Dubois fight and if Fury doesn’t want to fight, then you have to make the decision to fight somebody, or do you wait for those fights? ‘I can’t speak on behalf of AJ, for who he’s prepared to fight. But what I know is the focus is Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury. ‘Of course, Joshua’s done it all. If he gets Fury on his resume, he’s boxed virtually everybody of his era.’
