Efe Ajagba Says London-Born Anthony Joshua Is ‘Not A Real Nigerian’

Anthony Joshua might have spent some of his formative years in a Nigerian boarding school but Efe Ajagba says the two-time world champion should not be considered in the conversation to decide Africa’s No.1 heavyweight.
Ring Magazine
Ahead of his showdown with DR Congo native Martin Bakole, the 31-year-old Ajagba, who was born in the Delta State of Nigeria, said the fight in Riyadh was to decide who was the best heavyweight from their continent.
However, after 10 rounds at the ANB Arena, judges Pablo Gonzalez and Bob Williams both returned 95-95 scorecards meaning that neither man could claim that title.
And while they can both still argue their case, the Ring put to Ajagba that Joshua might also be in the running.
The 35-year-old, full name Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, is proud of his Nigerian roots, carries a tattoo of the continent on his right shoulder and spent time at the Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State. He has, therefore, been regularly linked with a fight in the country where both his parents were born.
But Ajagba shook his head when Joshua’s name was brought up in the conversation.
“Oh man,” Ajagba said. “I don’t think so. He’s not a real Nigerian.
“He might have just been there and that’s where his parents came from but for me, I’m the original Nigerian, to be honest. Not Joshua, that man has not experienced Nigeria. Almost all of his life has been spent in the UK, that’s why he hasn’t experienced it.”
It is then put to Ajagba, that Joshua has recently been seen training in Nigeria, where the locals cheered as he ran the streets.
“He just goes there for social media content,” Ajagba replies. “It’s ok, it’s all good – but I’m the original Nigerian.
“In Africa, Nigeria is always No.1 when it comes to sport and I’m the original Nigerian. That’s what it’s all about – I’ve got power and I’ve got skills.”
Ajagba, who is The Ring’s No.10-rated heavyweight, had hoped a victory over Bakole would propel him towards his first world title shot. However, the draw in Riyadh has only slowed his progress with an immediate rematch with Bakole now probably.
In the meantime, Ring magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the WBO, WBA and WBC titles, will face IBF titlist Daniel Dubois for all the belts at Wembley Stadium on July 19. But Ajagba believes the fight is unfair on Joseph Parker, who had been scheduled to face Dubois on February 22 before the Londoner pulled out through illness during fight week.
Instead, Parker knocked out last-minute stand-in Bakole in the second round of their contest, but is now waiting on news about his next fight while Dubois faces Usyk.
“I was surprised about Usyk-Dubois to be honest,” Ajagba added.
“That was supposed to be a fight for Joseph Parker. It has to be fair and that’s not fair. Dubois got sick before their fight so it doesn’t make sense to me.
“Parker won the replacement fight, he beat Martin Bakole, so now he should have got the opportunity to fight Usyk. Daniel Dubois has fought him before and he lost so why is he getting it again? He has to fight Joseph Parker like they first planned instead of Usyk. That’s a challenge. But it is what it is, this is boxing.”