Nigerian-born heavyweight boxer, Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh, has thrown down the gauntlet to former unified world champion, Anthony Joshua, calling for a headline bout on Nigerian soil.
Ibeh, who has been on an impressive streak with 11 straight victories since his 2021 loss to Jared Anderson, recently knocked out former world title contender Gerald Washington in three rounds.
In an interview with Sky Sports, the fast-rising heavyweight declared that facing Joshua would be the perfect opportunity to make a bold statement in the division.
“I would definitely stop him, no questions about that. It’s just a matter of how soon or how quickly it happens,” Ibeh confidently said.
According to him, the ideal fight would be one that resonates both with fans and his career ambitions. “We need the right platform and the right opponent to make a statement with, and there’d be no better one than AJ,” he added.
While expressing his admiration for Joshua, Ibeh emphasized that he is ready to fight anywhere—be it in the United Kingdom or Nigeria.
“That would definitely be a dream come true,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where it is—I’m ready. Even in Nigeria or at the O2 Arena, I would love to dance with him.”
The proposed clash between Ibeh and Joshua, if realized, would mark a historic moment for Nigerian boxing, potentially drawing global attention to the country’s growing influence in the sport.
