Anthony Joshua fielded an unexpected question during a recent visit to Nigeria, and the fact that it came from a kid was enough to knock the former unified world heavyweight champion out.
"I'd like to ask you, why you're boxing for Britain and not for Nigeria?" a young girl fired his way. A shell-shocked Joshua responded by repeating the question: "Why am I fighting for Britain and not for Nigeria?"
MORE: The timeline of events leading up to Ruiz's upset of Joshua
"So, my mom and my dad were born in Nigeria," Joshua began explaining. "Then, when they were (around) 25, they went to London. I was born and I started boxing at 18. I came back to Nigeria many times when I was younger, and then one day, my mom put me in boarding school. I said, 'No!'"
🙌🇳🇬 Anthony Joshua receives a hero's welcome as he visits the Makoko slums and Lagos National Stadium in Nigeria - the home of his ancestors.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 14, 2019
💯🗣️ AJ: "They tell us don't go to the ghettos, but I go where I feel most comfortable." pic.twitter.com/GduItDxWre
Joshua visited the Makoko section of Nigeria and also the Lagos National Stadium.
He additionally posted on his Instagram account a shot of himself surrounded by Nigerian fans.
The visit to Nigeria comes amid Joshua training for his highly anticipated rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. this fall, although a date and location for the fight has yet to be confirmed. It has been about a month and a half since Ruiz shocked Joshua by knocking him down four times en route to a stunning seventh-round TKO and handing the British fighter his first pro loss.
Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs), who turns 30 in October, would like nothing more than to get his titles back for his birthday.
