If there is one place where Anthony Joshua’s victory over Vladimir Klitschko means so much and is still being celebrated almost a month after the fight, it is this small town called Sagamu in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, where the Joshua family comes from.
Posters celebrating him are still hanging boldly on the family home in the community. He is called a Prince here because he is from one of the royal families in the town, and members of the Joshua’s extended family are still celebrating Anthony’s victory.
His uncle, Adedamola, says his success in the boxing ring does not come as big surprise.
“His grandfather was a boxer but not professional. It was just for the sports. He was the goalkeeper of Ijebu-Ode Grammar school and he was into amateur boxing,” said Adedamola.
“The father himself is a boxer and the sister to the father was a boxer also; a lady who used to beat men in this town, Sagamu.”
It’s not just this small town that is celebrating Anthony Joshua, authorities of the State are now planning to honour him in their own unique way.
A building on the street that used to be a cinema was actually owned by the great grandfather of Anthony Joshua, and the name of the street is set to change from Cinema Street to Anthony Joshua Street – the state plans.
Also set to be renamed is the stadium in the town. Very soon, the name will change to Anthony Joshua International Stadium.
Driving that process is the local lawmaker who represents the town in the State House of parliament.
“We are about 90% done. What I’m just trying to do is to make sure that immediately after the motion, there is implementation,” said Yinka Mafe, Majority Leader of Ogun State.
“I want the executive to be carried along. And I have got the all clear with the governor and the governor is happy to do it. So if the governor is happy to do it, that means we are good to go. “
The Joshua family says that they are excited about the plan.
Raymond Ajakaiye, Anthony’s cousin, who spent some time with him in the United Kingdom and a has also tried out his hands in the ring, wants the government to do even more.
“The government should do more in terms of youth empowerment in sports. There are lots of talents all over. They should not just rename the stadium and the street, they should actually do more in terms of youth and sports development. Actively do more,” stated Raymond.
For now the people of Sagamu are looking forward to the day, when their son, Anthony Joshua, will come home so they could set their eyes on their hero.
