Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua visits his ancenstral home, Nigeria some weeks after losing all his belts to the new and first Mexican heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Andy Ruiz.
The visit of Anthony Joshua which was shared by his sister Janet, might not have come as a surprise to many, as although he has never hidden his love for Nigeria as his tattoo clearly shows, most people would have wanted his home coming to be different, like heroic. He should be returning home as a champion of the world not what we saw a few hours ago.
He is returning home after losing the heavyweight boxing champion, but has paid more visit to Jamiaca as a champion than Nigeria. This just shows how many athletes of Nigerian origin over the years tend to snub their country when they are at the top of their game, but look to return in their lowest moments. This is with a few exceptions though, as the likes of Samuel Peters, Israel Adesanya and others came back home to Nigeria while still at the top.
Although he was well received at the Lagos Airport on Thursday, the crowd would have been much more assuming he won his last fight, and came down to Nigeria with all that belts all hanging on his shoulder!
Nigerians are happy he is home, but all we are hoping now, is for him to win his rematch with Andy Ruiz and come back with those belts and give Nigerians the respect they deserve.
This will be his first time in Nigeria since turning a professional boxer, and he is in the country with his family members. This was the message posted by his sister Janet thanking Nigerians for the warm reception:
“Welcome home my dear brother ❤️ May the Lord almighty uphold you. Strengthen you and be with you.
Back to the mother land. The soil of our foundation.
Doing the work of God
Your Boy and God your son is just fine. ❤️ Thank you Nigeria – the only words I can use to describe our welcome is
Immersed with Love, peace from the heavens, Joy, unlimited joy and abundance, rains and showers of blessings.
We are truly grateful ❤️❤️✨✨