The Nigerian Minister for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on Sunday praised Anthony Joshua.. The Nigerian-born former world heavyweight boxing champion. For his victory over his opponent, Jermaine Franklin in an international bout on Saturday 2nd March 2023. Dare further emphasized in his congratulatory note that Joshua fought like a lion to defeat his American challenger Jermaine Franklin.
Anthony Joshua won Franklin by unanimous decision at the 02 Arena in London to get the very vital win in his first fight since his September 2022 loss to Oleksandr Uysk in Saudi Arabia.
“The world champion demonstrated the heart of a lion in the encounter and his victory was well-deserved’’. The sport minister Mr. Sunday Dare was quoted saying in his congratulatory message to the former world heavy weight champ. The minister praised Joshua for keeping alive the “never-say-die’’ spirit for which Nigeria and Nigerians are all known for.
“You never gave up. With an undying spirit, you clutched victory when it mattered most. We will continue to cheer you on,’’ Dare wrote.
Anthony Joshua is now expected to face off with Tyson Fury in the summer after a dominant win over Jermaine Franklin in his ring return. The former world heavy weight champion said after defeating Franklin that he and promoter Eddie Hearn were determined to organize a bout with Fury. With deal points already agreed from their failed December 2022 fight.
Before the fight Anthony Joshua was quoted saying: “I got to a certain level but I plateaued there and now i realize that if I want to achieve again. I’ve got to elevate to another level. I’ve just found out that what I thought was good enough, wasn’t and sacrifice is not a bad thing. Because throughout this struggle I’ve had to take myself through I’ve actually found potentially better than what I had before”
