The Federal Government says it will soon invite newly crowned World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua, to the country. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement today said the government has congratulated Joshua, who last week defeated Ukranian Wladimir Klitschko.
Mr. Mohammed said Nigeria is proud to be associated with the new champion, whose Nigerian heritage he has publicly acknowledged. Meanwhile, Joshua is set to have a stadium and a street named after him in Ogun State. Joshua, a British fighter, is born to Nigerian parents and has his ancestral home in Sagamu, Ogun State.
After his Saturday victory, Ogun State is set to honour the boxer. The majority leader of the State House of Assembly Yinka Mafe has plans to move a motion to rename Sagamu International Stadium and Cinema Street to Anthony Joshua Stadium and Anthony Joshua Street.
Nigerian boxing chiefs caused a huge blunder when they turned down Joshua to represent them at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The Watford-born boxer was keen to represent the country but was deemed ‘not good enough’ before going onto fight for Great Britain where he won gold.
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