PICTORIAL: Anthony Joshua gifts Tinubu autographed glove in Lagos

Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, on Wednesday, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos State.

Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxer and two-time world heavyweight champion, also presented the president with an autographed glove, which read, “To the Great Asiwaju Jagaban Borgu of Africa, Bola A. Tinubu.”

Credit: X | #DOlusegun

This was disclosed by the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, via his X handle Wednesday.

Credit: X | #DOlusegun

“Champ @anthonyjoshua pays homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his residence in Lagos. Presents him with his autographed glove,” the tweet read.

In late December 2024, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, announced plans by his administration to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring in the state.

Abiodun also announced that the two-time former world heavyweight boxing champion would be lighting the Gateway Games National Sports Festival torch, which has been postponed till May 2025.

The governor made this known when he hosted Joshua in his office in Abeokuta, the state capital.

“I want to openly request that, besides the fact that today we are going to officially confirm you as our sports ambassador, we want to request that you come back to light up the Gateway Sports Festival torch; you will be the one lighting it up.

“We are going to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring, and that boxing ring will be in a stadium here in Abeokuta to ensure that you come home more frequently. Besides the fact that you are now our official sports ambassador, we have decided that we will give you a brand new house in Sagamu,” he said.

According to PUNCH Sports Extra, the proposed heavyweight clash between Joshua and another British rival, Tyson Fury, could generate over $300 million in revenue, with both camps expressing interest in staging the fight at Wembley Stadium in 2025,

Following his recent defeat to undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, Fury has dismissed retirement rumours and set his sights on facing Joshua in what could be the biggest fight in British boxing history.