ANTHONY JOSHUA, who is expected to return to action in the first quarter of 2026, is now far less likely to make his African debut in Ghana.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has, more so in recent weeks, highlighted Ghana as a possible destination for the eagerly-awaited comeback of ‘AJ’.
The two-time world heavyweight champion last fought in September 2024, back when he suffered a devastating fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
But while it appears that Joshua, 28-4 (25 KOs), remains likely to return to the ring early next year, it would now seem that a site deal in Ghana, which Hearn claims to have previously been discussed, is almost certainly off the table.
The West African nation is still coming to terms with the passing of Ernest Akushey, a light-heavyweight boxer who tragically lost his life on Tuesday.
More commonly known as ‘Bahubali’, the Ghanaian athlete – aged 32 at the time of his death – had suffered fatal injuries from his bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena, Accra, on September 12.
As a result, the National Sports Authority (NSA) has promised to temporarily suspend boxing in Ghana while, at the same time, investigating the issues surrounding Akushey’s untimely passing.
That much has been confirmed in an official statement released by the NSA, while the body’s Director General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, seeks to improve the substandard health and safety protocols that contributed to the tragedy earlier this month.
“Every day, the research takes a new shape and form, depending on the plan,” Ankrah told MAX TV GHANA, speaking of his ongoing investigation into the matter.
“And also, unexpectedly, things can happen – just as we’ve witnessed with this fight [on September 12].
“We need to adjust, and quickly address it, and that is exactly what we are doing. We’ve not banned anything, but boxing cannot continue as it has been.”
In his interview, Ankrah insists that his communication with the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has been largely unproductive in recent months, with a lack of urgency to respond to emails seemingly representing an ongoing theme.
Because of that, the NSA chief adds that there should be an election, with a view to appoint a new GBA president, before the end of this year.
In a more concerning development, meanwhile, GhanaWeb has reported that the GBA’s former president, Abraham Kotei Neequaye, had previously determined that Akushey was ‘unfit’ to resume his boxing career.
And yet, even with that knowledge of the fighter’s condition, current president Roger Barnor, who succeeded Neequaya in June, somehow decided to clear ‘Bahubali’ to box earlier this month.
So now, while the GBA may appoint a new president by the start of 2026, it would nonetheless appear that Joshua’s potential outing in Ghana is becoming increasingly less likely.
