Promoter Dr. Ezekiel Adamu of Balmoral Promotions is actively targeting a high-stakes, all-British heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma to be held in Nigeria in 2027. Adamu claims the matchup is the “perfect story” due to both fighters’ Nigerian heritage.
He predicts a stadium fight between the two heavyweights would generate more global interest than Muhammad Ali’s historic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. If realized, the event would mark the first heavyweight title-level bout ever staged in Nigeria.
The 2027 timeline depends entirely on both athletes completing a rigorous schedule of upcoming bouts. Joshua is preparing to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 before a highly anticipated September rematch against Tyson Fury in Riyadh. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old unbeaten Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic in August, looking to position himself for a unified title shot later this year.
Both fighters share deep ties to the West African nation. Joshua was exploring a tune-up fight in Nigeria before his involvement in a fatal car crash in December 2025, and Itauma visited the country last year to connect with his roots, broadcaster DAZN reports.
Unlike fellow elite heavyweights Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, who have both publicly refused to fight the young phenom Itauma due to the high risk he presents, Joshua is welcoming the challenge. When asked directly by reporters about fighting the rising star, Joshua replied verbatim: “100 per cent, yeah of course why not?”.