Nigerian roots: both parents grew up in Sagamu, Ogun State; he schooled at Mayflower School, Ikenne.
30-4Pro record
2xWorld champion
2012Olympic gold
Knocked out Kristian Prenga in round 2 in Riyadh on 25 July 2026.
Meets Tyson Fury on 11 December 2026 at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
2Photo: Editor083, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Daniel Dubois
Heavyweight · Great Britain
Born 6 September 1997, London
Nigerian roots: his mother is from Nigeria.
WBOChampion 2026
IBFChampion 2024-25
2024Beat Joshua
Won the WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley in May 2026.
Knocked out Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September 2024.
3
EA
Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos
Efe Ajagba
Heavyweight · Nigeria
Born 22 April 1994, Ughelli, Delta State
Nigerian roots: born and raised in Nigeria; coached as an amateur by Anthony Konyegwachie.
2015African Games gold
2014Commonwealth bronze
2016Rio Olympian
Stopped former world champion Charles Martin in round 4 in Las Vegas on 15 February 2026.
A former bakery worker who swapped football for boxing in 2011.
4Photo: Richard Riakporhe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Richard Riakporhe
Heavyweight · Great Britain
Born 5 January 1990, London
Nigerian roots: born to Nigerian parents; raised on the Aylesbury Estate, Walworth.
2British title weights
2026British heavyweight champion
2019British cruiserweight champion
Won the British heavyweight title by stopping Jeamie Tshikeva in round 5 on 11 April 2026.
Survived a stabbing aged 15 and now runs a foundation against knife crime.
5
MI
Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos
Moses Itauma
Heavyweight · Great Britain
Born 28 December 2004, Kezmarok, Slovakia
Nigerian roots: his father is Nigerian, with family ties to Akwa Ibom State.
14-1Pro record
2025Commonwealth champion
21Age at IBF title fight
Lost to Filip Hrgović in round 9 for the vacant IBF title at The O2, London, on 29 August 2026.
Akwa Ibom governor Umo Eno sent a message of support before the fight.
6
LO
Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos
Lawrence Okolie
Heavyweight · Great Britain
Born 16 December 1992, Hackney, London
Nigerian roots: born to Nigerian parents.
WBOCruiserweight champion 2021-23
WBCBridgerweight champion 2024
2016Rio Olympian
A planned fight with Tony Yoka in Paris in May 2026 was cancelled after an adverse anti-doping finding in April.
A two-weight world champion now campaigning at heavyweight.
7
DA
Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos
David Adeleye
Heavyweight · Great Britain
Born 16 November 1996, London
Nigerian roots: his parents come from Ikole, Ekiti State.
2025British heavyweight champion
2023Commonwealth challenger
EkitiFamily roots
Lost to Filip Hrgović on points in Riyadh in August 2025 after vacating the British title.
Won the British title by stopping Jeamie Tshikeva in April 2025.
8
OJ
Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos
Oto Joseph
Lightweight · Nigeria
Born 25 November 1992, Akwa Ibom State
Nigerian roots: Nigerian born and bred; a former okada rider from a family of five.
2African title reigns
2014Commonwealth Games
2012National Sports Festival gold
African lightweight champion (2017 to 2020 and again from 2022).
A three-time best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night.
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From our archive
Outstanding Nigerian boxers in our archive
The sports of Boxing has been one of the games Nigeria has featured and stayed active in, the country has produced many outstanding boxers and professionals who have represented the country in many championships and boxing activities both home and abroad.
Some of Nigerian’s Past players from 1960s to 1999 include;
Eddie Ndukwu, Bantamweight, Commonwealth Games, Boxing 1966
A. Andeh, Lightweight, Commonwealth Games, Boxing 1966
Eddie Ndukwu, Featherweight, Commonwealth Games, Boxing 1974
J. Orewa, Bantamweight, Commonwealth Games, Boxing 1982
P. Konyegwachie, Featherweight, Commonwealth Games, Boxing 1982
Fatai Ayinla, Sadiq Umar, Efetobore Apochi, Kelvin Smith and some other professional boxers that have represented Nigeria in AIBA competitions and at the Olympic Games for several years.
Some others from the male weight category who have participated actively in the Commonwealth Games are:
Sikiru Fatai (56kg) - Nigeria Police
Soyoye Kazeem (60kg) - Ogun state
Umeh (69kg) - Nigeria Army’s Paris
Lukmon Lawal (81kg) - Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
Dick Tiger, Hogan “Kid” Bassey and Samuel Peter, all world champions, lead the list, with Olympic medallists Peter Konyegwachie, David Izonritei, Richard Igbineghu and Duncan Dokiwari, and Commonwealth champions such as Obisia Nwankpa and Eddie Ndukwu.
Which world champions have Nigerian roots?
Anthony Joshua (parents from Sagamu), Daniel Dubois (Nigerian mother) and Lawrence Okolie (Nigerian parents) are British world champions with Nigerian roots, as were Herbie Hide and Henry Akinwande in the 1990s.
Who is the best Nigerian heavyweight today?
Among Nigerian-born boxers, Efe Ajagba of Ughelli, who stopped former world champion Charles Martin in February 2026. Among the diaspora, Anthony Joshua and WBO champion Daniel Dubois.
