Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born in the UK in October 1989 to a Nigerian mother and a father of Nigerian and Irish descent.
Although he has always fought under a British flag, he spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, attending a boarding school, and the influence that Africa – and more specifically Nigeria – has had on him is clear for all to see and hear.
Joshua has an outline tattoo of the continent on his right shoulder, with Nigeria’s border also highlighted, while he has used the music of Nigerian icons like Burna Boy and Femi Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, to accompany him on previous ring-walks.
His fights are shown on specially erected screens in front of the palace of the Akarigbo in Sagamu, the Nigerian town’s paramount ruler.
“The Joshua family is well known in this town. His mother is from my domain and we are related as cousins,” one of the town’s traditional rulers, Oba Adewale Osiberu tells BBC Sport Africa.
“AJ is level-headed and committed to what he does. He is very humble and doesn’t allow his success to get to his head. Beyond that, he loves to connect with his roots.
“We wish him the best and will continue to pray for hi
We all have a strong connection, though we don’t meet regularly and his homecoming has not been frequent due to his career,” explains Ajakaye.
“He’s a kid with a lot of respect and he’s well brought up, respecting his elders.”
When Joshua enters the ring for a headline bout, fight nights in Sagamu have become legendary.
Kayode Segun-Okeowo, president of the Anthony Joshua Fan Club, says it has become a tradition for the town to come out to cheer on its adopted son.
“The club was established in 2016 and we have a large fan base for Anthony Joshua here,” he says.
“We have organised live viewing events for most of his fights and organised victory parties for him.
“My expectation for his next fight is positive. Joshua has defeated better boxers. I don’t see him [Ngannou] beating our own Anthony Joshua.”
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