Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has sparked debate by suggesting that Anthony Joshua shouldn’t be regarded as a true Nigerian.
Ajagba’s remarks came after his intense majority draw against Congolese fighter Martin Bakole at the ANB Arena in Riyadh this week.
When asked by The Ring about Joshua’s place among the top heavyweights, the 30-year-old Ajagba, whose only professional defeat came against Frank Sánchez in 2021, dismissed the idea, casting doubt on Joshua’s ties to Nigeria.
“Oh man,” Ajagba said. “I don’t think so. He’s not a real Nigerian. He might have just been there, and that’s where his parents came from, but for me, I’m the original Nigerian, to be honest. Not Joshua—he hasn’t experienced Nigeria. Almost all of his life has been spent in the UK.”
Ajagba accused Joshua of only visiting Nigeria for “social media content.”
“It’s okay, it’s all good—but I’m the original Nigerian,” he added. “In Africa, Nigeria is always No. 1 when it comes to sport, and I’m the original Nigerian. That’s what it’s all about—I’ve got power, and I’ve got skills.”
