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Heavyweight
champion Anthony Joshua - I know I can knock anyone out - Joshua
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The Nigerian family of
newly crowned world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is planning a special
celebration to mark his epic victory at Wembley at the weekend, local media
report.
BBC
Africa Sport report continues:
His
uncle, Adedamola Joshua, who lives in Sagamu in south-western Ogun
state, told the local Today
news website (SEE BELOW) that the boxing superstar's Nigerian family was hugely
proud of his achievements.
He
welcomed reports of a government plan to rename a street in Sagamu in honour of
his nephew.
Joshua's
mother is Nigerian and he spent six months at a boarding school in the West
African state when he was 11. His father is reported to be of Nigerian and Irish
heritage.
He's
spoken proudly in the past about his Nigerian heritage and says that his diet
of popular national dishes, including pounded yam, eba and egusi has been part
the recipe to his success.
“My
heart is with Nigeria, my heart is with Britain, I’m a Nigerian by blood,
yes," he has said.
The
government said yesterday that it would invite Joshua to come to Nigeria soon,
especially since he had expressed a desire to "give back" to the
country.
Family Plans
Special Celebration For Anthony Joshua
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Nigeria
and Britain Fight over who claims Anthony Joshua, World Heavyweight Boxing
Champion. Sahara Reporters
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The
27-year-old Joshua, whose father comes from Sagamu, on Saturday beat veteran boxer,
Wladimir Klitschko, in the 11th round of their clash in London.
Adedamola,
who spoke at the Joshua family house in Sagamu, Ogun State, on Tuesday, said
the British-born Nigerian pugilist comes from a united family.
He
said, “The family as a whole is proud of Anthony’s achievements and we are very
glad to be his relatives. We celebrated his victory and there are other plans
for a bigger celebration. It is really exciting to have one of our own creating
such history in the world. At that age to have 19 fights and not lost any with
all of them ending in knockouts is commendable,” Adedamola, who is in his late
fifties, said.
“Our
family didn’t just identify with him because of his victory against Klitschko.
We have been keeping a tab on his growth and successes despite the fact that he
is away from home.”
Speaking
further, Adedamola said boxing is a tradition in the family, adding that
Joshua’s grandfather once used his boxing skills to outwit three white men
years ago.
“Anthony actually has boxing running in his
blood because it is a family tradition. His grandfather Olaseni Joshua, after
whom he was so named, was also a boxer.
“He
took on three white men in the UK. He had married Robert’s (Anthony’s father)
mother and they (white men) couldn’t understand why a white woman would prefer
a Nigerian to them. Something led to another and he fought and beat them up
alone. The family isn’t violent but we defend ourselves when it is needed.”
Adedamola
said Anthony’s father pays regular visits to the country and the family house,
which is located on Akarigbo Road, Sagamu. He welcomed the idea of the state
government’s plan to honour the boxer.
He
said, “As a close family, we hold regular meetings involving members both at
home and abroad. Anthony’s father comes home regularly – up to six times a
year. He was home for some days but left just four days to his son’s fight with
Klitschko.
“Anthony’s
humility is another hallmark of the family. We are a royal family and have
achieved a lot in Sagamu but pride is not what we exhibit.”
He
added, “A large part of the street called Cinema Road belongs to our family and
is very germane to our history. If the government wants to name it after
Anthony Joshua, we welcome it and we will give them the support needed to make
it a reality.”
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