A “blockbuster fight” between Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma in Nigeria would create more global interest than Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, says promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu.
The British heavyweight stars currently have their own plans as Joshua returns against Kristian Prenga later this month before an expected all-British battle with Tyson Fury, while Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic on August 29.
But Adamu believes Joshua and Itauma, who both have Nigerian heritage, could surpass Ali’s legendary fight with George Foreman in Zaire [former name of DR Congo], if they both shared the ring in Nigeria.
“It’s a global fight. We’ll get some huge numbers when it comes to viewership,” Adamu told Sky Sports.
“When you think about Africa as a whole, we have about 1.4 billion people in Africa. And then 70 to 75 per cent of that population between the ages of 15 to 30 or thereabouts. Having those eyeballs on it as well too is major.
“And then both of them are global stars. So it’s a perfect story in Africa, where they come from, from their roots.
“It’s one fight that will actually top the Rumble in the Jungle we’ve been talking about for about 50 years.
“So I’d like to make that fight happen here.”
Joshua is a two-time world champion who is on a collision course with long-term rival Fury as he enters the final chapter of his career, whereas the unbeaten Itauma has blazed a trail towards a world title with 14 straight wins.
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Moses Itauma is taking a step up in class when he faces Croatian Filip Hrgovic in August
But Adamu is hopeful Joshua would be interested in a fight with his expected successor on African soil.
“AJ has made it clear he wants to become undisputed again, so he’s going to go on and keep fighting after this fight with Fury,” said Adamu.
“He’s got the appetite to keep fighting.
“We are also looking at bringing big fights here to Nigeria as well. So the one wish I would have at some point before his career ends, would be to have AJ vs Moses Itauma here in Nigeria.
“Both Nigerians on Nigerian soil, that would really be a blockbuster fight.”
Adamu has staged a number of boxing events in his home country and says there is massive public demand for such a big-name bout.
“Listen, the last show we did in May, we had a 5,000-seat arena and we could have filled it over 10 times. The crowd waiting to get in outside was mental.
“We had almost about two billion views across all social platforms. We had about four billion impressions.
“Africa – and Nigeria especially which has got a population of about 250 million people – most of that demography is a youthful demography.
“So if you use boxing and entertainment together, it’s what we’ve seen that’s really growing big time here.
“The government are involved in it. All the editions we’ve had, the government have been involved in it.
“We’ve also got some super brands here as well too.
“I mean, it’s a time bomb waiting to explode to be honest with you.”
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