Kingsley Ibeh believes he’s the right opponent for Anthony Joshua’s hoped-for battle in Nigeria.
Hypothesis has mounted that Joshua might look to stage a comeback battle in Africa, with Ghana and Nigeria potential places.
Joshua has Nigerian heritage and heavyweight contender Kingsley Ibeh was born within the nation.
Now primarily based in Arizona, Ibeh has a 16-2-1 report, with 14 stoppage victories. Since dropping to prime prospect Jared Anderson in 2021, Ibeh has been on a run of 11 consecutive wins.
Most not too long ago he knocked out former world title challenger Gerald Washington in three rounds.
“We need the right platform and the right opponent to make a statement with and there’d be no better one than AJ,” Ibeh advised Sky Sports activities.
He believes he’s the perfect candidate to battle Joshua in Nigeria. “That would be definitely a dream come true,” Ibeh stated. “That would be amazing.”
However he added: “It doesn’t matter where it is, I’m ready.
“Wherever. It does not matter if it is within the UK. I might love to bounce with him within the O2 Enviornment.
“I would definitely stop him, no questions about that, it’s going to come down to how soon or how quickly it goes.”
Joshua has been out of motion since dropping to Daniel Dubois final yr
A cousin of heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi, Ibeh initially performed American soccer in his athletic profession.
His introduction to boxing got here by probability when he was attempting to promote life insurance coverage to a coach at a gymnasium.
“[The trainer said:] ‘If you want to talk to me and earn my time, you’ve got to get in the ring and spar with one of my guys.’ I never back down from a fight,” Ibeh mirrored.
“I took my shirt off, put headgear on and I went to work… I end up knocking him out.”
He did not find yourself promoting the coverage (the coach had had a liver transplant and did not qualify for it, ultimately), however he did get a boxing coach out of it and took it from there.
“It was a good way to get the aggression and anger out. Ever since then I started boxing,” Ibeh stated. “I played football here in the US, I played with the Cardinals.
“I’ve all the time lived within the gymnasium, I’ve all the time labored out, boxing simply grew to become one other ardour for me.”
He is now looking for a breakthrough victory. “I am simply excited to see what the longer term holds,” Ibeh said. “I actually have not even proven what we have been engaged on.”
Joshua was knocked out by Dubois at Wembley Stadium (Picture: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing).
His message to Britain’s heavyweights: “I’m willing to come to their home, their backyard and entertain.
“I like AJ, he is been my idol,” he said. “[But] I’ve imply intentions. For the game, I might love to present him the work and problem that he is on the lookout for.”
There’s a “small probability” Joshua could box before the end of this year and he will fight early in 2026, potentially in February, his promoter Eddie Hearn previously told Sky Sports.
“If he fights this yr, that can be a pure run-out. It will not be a prime 15 man,” the promoter continued. “He is both going to have these two fights earlier than Tyson Fury – if that may get made – or he will have the one battle in February.
“We haven’t really decided yet but he’s keen to get active.”
