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A “blockbuster fight” between Nigeria’s Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma will generate more global interest than Muhammad Ali’s ‘rumble in the jungle’, promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu has said.
The British heavyweight stars currently have their own plans as Joshua returns to action against Christian Prenga ahead of an expected all-British battle with Tyson Fury later this month, while Itauma faces Filip Horgavich on August 29.
But Adamu believes that Joshua and Itauma, who both have Nigerian heritage, could surpass Ali’s legendary fight with George Foreman in Zaire (the former name of DR Congo) if they both share a ring in Nigeria.
“It’s a global fight. We’re going to get some huge numbers in terms of viewership,” Adamu said Sky Sports.
“When you think about Africa as a whole, we have about 1.4 billion people in Africa. And then 70 to 75 percent of that population is between the ages of 15 and 30 or so. It’s also important to have that eyeball on that.
“And then they’re both world stars. So it’s a perfect story of Africa, where they come from, their roots.
“This is a fight that will actually top the Rumble in the Jungle we’ve been talking about for almost 50 years
“So I want 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, while the unbeaten Itauma has blazed a trail to a world title with 14 straight wins.
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Moses Itauma steps up in class when he faces Croatian Filip Horgovic in August
But Adamu is optimistic Joshua will be interested in a fight with his expected successor on African soil.
“AJ has made it clear that he wants to be undisputed again, so he’s going to keep fighting after this fight with Fury,” Adamu said.
“He has the hunger to keep fighting.
“We are also looking at big fights here in Nigeria. So what I would like before his career ends is AJ vs Moses Itauma here in Nigeria.
“Both Nigerians on Nigerian soil, it will really be a blockbuster fight.”
Adamu has staged several boxing events in his home country and says there is huge public demand for such big-name fights.
“Listen, we did the last show in May, we had a 5,000 seat arena and we could have filled it 10 times over. The crowd waiting to go out was mental.
“We had about two billion views across all social platforms. We had about four billion impressions.
“Africa – and Nigeria in particular with a population of about 250 million – the majority of that population is a youth population.
“So if you use boxing and entertainment together, we’ve seen it grow really big time here.
“The government is involved. As many versions as we’ve had, the government has been involved.
“We’ve got some super brands here too.
“I mean, it’s a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, to be honest with you.”
