In the world of boxing, tales of rags-to-riches journeys often captivate audiences, but few stories rival the meteoric rise of Anthony Joshua. From his humble beginnings in the ring, marked by a meager £15,000 payday for his inaugural professional bout, to his staggering career earnings totaling £500,140,000, Joshua’s journey is a testament to unwavering resilience, unyielding dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Before the glitz and glamor of the professional circuit, Joshua honed his craft in amateur boxing, amassing accolades and acclaim that foreshadowed his future dominance.

With an impeccable amateur record and a 2012 Olympic gold medal adorning his chest, Joshua transitioned seamlessly into the professional ranks, signaling the dawn of a new era in heavyweight boxing.

Emanuele Leo was his first opponent in the pros and he was quickly secured his first pro paycheck by knocking Leo out in the first round at the 02 Arena pocketing £15,000 for the bout.

Joshua went on to earn £50,000 in his next two fights which he won by knockouts against Paul Butlin and Hrvoje Kisicek. He followed that up with a £75,000 pay-day against Dorian Darch who also fell victim to Joshua’s knockout power.

His first million-pound purse would wait till his 8th professional bout against Konstantin Airich who he also dispatched by TKO and bagged a £1m purse. Joshua steadily climbed the ranks, each triumph contributing to his burgeoning reputation and financial standing.

Joshua’s ambition had always set him apart from his peers. In a candid interview dating back to April 2017, Joshua spoke of his aspirations to not only conquer the boxing world but to transcend it, aiming to become the sport’s first billionaire.

“When I first started, the aim was to become a multi-millionaire,” Joshua said.

“But now there are ordinary people, grandmas and granddads, who are worth millions just because of property prices. So the new school of thought is that I need to be a billionaire.”

Joshua went on to earn £1m from four other fights and £2m from wins over Kevin Johnson and Gary Cornish before a £3m purse for his win over Dillian Whyte and a total of £14.5m from his next three bouts.

However, it was his resounding victory over Wladimir Klitschko in the same month that catapulted Joshua into boxing stardom. Not only did the win secure his status as a heavyweight champion, but it also significantly boosted his earnings, with a staggering £15m purse attached to the fight.

His rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr., which saw him reclaim his titles from the American who handed him his first loss, brought in a monumental £66m payday, a testament to his enduring appeal and drawing power.

Joshua’s highest purse from a bout was made in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk which he lost by split decision. In the first bout, Joshua earned £20m and in the rematch in Saudi Arabia, the two-time heavyweight champion bagged a whopping sum of £70m.

Undeterred by setbacks, such as his defeats to Usyk, Joshua showcased his resilience by bouncing back with triumphant victories in his next four fights which saw him earn a total of £86 with the biggest pay coming from his most recent fight against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia where he pocketed £40m.

Each victory not only added to his legacy in the ring but also swelled his bank balance, underscoring his status as one of boxing’s most bankable stars.

Looking ahead, Joshua’s sights are set firmly on the horizon, his appetite for success as voracious as ever. With a record of 28-3-0 (25 KOs), the 34-year-old now has his sights set on becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.

Nigeria have been placed second best overall nation in weightlifting event of the on-going 2023 Africa Games in Ghana with a total of 32 medals.

While Nigeria came second overall on the weightlifting medals table, the female lifters came first in their category winning 11 gold and two silver medals, second placed Egypt had 11 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals.

Represented by 12 lifters made of six male and six female with four coaches, Nigeria lifters won 16 good, 10 silver and 6 bronze medals to come second behind leading country Egypt.
On their part, the Egyptians who also won the weightlifting event in 2019 Rabat Games had a total of 24 gold, 4 solve and 4 bronze medals to once again show their superiority in the sport.

All the 12 Nigeria lifters won medals with the exception of Morufat Folarin who was injured on Day 1 of the competition and could not continue.

King Kalu and Favour Agboro led the curtain raiser on Sunday after they won five medals two bronze in 55kg and two silver and a bronze in 61kg, respectively.

On Day 2 of the weightlifting event, Nigeria was dominant after all the three lifters won a combined 9 gold collectively, each winning three gold medals respectively. They were Edidiong Umoafia (67kg), Adijat Adenike Olarinoye (55kg) and Rafiatu Lawal (59kg).

Day 3 of the competition saw Nigeria win six more gold medals by Ruth Ayodele (64kg) and Joy Eze in 71kg, each winning 3 good medals in that order.

Competing on Day 4 were Desmond Akano (Men’s -96kg) who won 2 Silver, and a Bronze medals while Abayomi Adeyemi (Men’s 102kg) claimed a silver and 2 bronze.
Nigeria won another gold medal on Day 5 after Mary Osijo and Lucky Joseph combined to win six more medals.

Competing in Women’s 87kg, Ọsịsọ won 1 Gold and 2 Silver medals while Joseph won all the three silver medals in Men’s +109kg category Nigeria Weightlifting team were coaches by Ajei Emeka Godson , Ayodabo Kehinde, Lawal Patience and Okuofoh Evelyn. The General Secretary of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF, Mrs Melvina Ashinedu Apeh is also part of the team.

The 2023 Africa Games Weightlifting event which began on Saturday, 9th March was rounded off on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria weightlifting team will return home with their shoulders held high having retained their second position which they achieved in Rabat Morocco, four years ago.

Nigeria’s Weightlifting Medal Results

1. Kalu King – 55 kg – 2 Bronze

2. Favour Agboro – 61 kg – 2 Silver & 1 Bronze

3. Edidiong Umoafia – 67 kg — 3 Gold

4. Adijat Olarinoye – 55 kg. —- Gold 3

5. Rafiatu Lawal – 59 kg. — Gold 3

6. Ruth Ayodele – 64 kg — Gold 3

7. Joy Eze – 71 kg —- Gold 3

8. Desmond Akano – 96 kg – Silver 2 & 1 Bronze

9. Abayomi Adeyemi – 102 kg – Silver 1 & 2 Bronze

10. Mary Taiwo Osijo – 87 kg – Gold 1 & 2 Silver

11. Lucky Joseph – +109 kg – Silver 3

Total Medals:-
Gold – 16
Silver – 10
Bronze – 6

There are Indications that the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have resolved to hire another foreign tactician to replace Jose Peseiro as Super Eagles head coach.

Following the recent announcement by NFF, asking interested coaches to apply for the plum Super Eagles job after expiration of the former coach contract, no fewer than 40 coaches, both local and foreign, are said to have applied for the position that many Nigerian football stakeholders now feel should be occupied by an indigenous coach.

Former Nigerian internationals, Emmanuel Amuneke, Finidi George who served as assistant coach to Peseiro, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Salisu Yusuf Sylvanus Okpala are among Nigerian coaches who have applied for the job.

Micheal Nsien, a Nigerian coach who is currently handling the USA U-17 and U-19 national teams, is also in the race for the juicy position.

One-time Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Portuguese coach, Antonio Canceicao is one of the foreign tacticians who is said to be highly favoured to land the job.

However, a member of the NFF Technical Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he doesn’t the power to spoke on behalf on the committee, said what the Super Eagles need right now is a sound foreign technical adviser who will not only impact positively on the senior national team but help in developing other aspects of Nigerian football.

He reiterated that there is nothing wrong with hiring a foreign coach, but whoever is coming must be a world-class coach with a track record of achievements as manager of a renowned football nation.

“I have nothing against indigenous coaches, but I will say that the person we need at the moment is a foreign coach with the prerequisite experience to handle the Super Eagles. He must be the type of coach who will come and support in the overall development of our football.

“The Super Eagles as presently constituted are too big for the indigenous coaches that Nigerians are clamouring for. They are not bad coaches, but they are not yet at the level that they can effectively handle the senior national team.

“If you talk to most of my colleagues in the committee, they will tell you the samething. Most of us are for a foreign coach for the Super Eagles. I believe the NFF will see reason with some of us on this matter,” the very influential member of the NFF Technical Committee said.

Recalls that the Technical Committee met recently in Abuja to scrutinise the applications received by the football federation after it advertised the vacant positions of the head coach of the Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets.