Kingsley Ibeh believes he is the perfect opponent for Anthony Joshua’s hoped-for fight in Nigeria, reports skysports.com.

Speculation has mounted that Joshua could look to stage a comeback fight in Africa, with Ghana and Nigeria potential locations.

Joshua has Nigerian heritage and heavyweight contender Kingsley Ibeh was born in the country. Now based in Arizona, Ibeh has a 16-2-1 record, with 14 stoppage victories. Since losing to top prospect Jared Anderson in 2021, Ibeh has been on a run of 11 consecutive wins.

Most recently he knocked out former world title challenger Gerald Washington in three rounds.

“We need the right platform and the right opponent to make a statement with, and there’d be no better one than AJ,” Ibeh told Sky Sports.

He believes he is the ideal candidate to fight Joshua in Nigeria. “That would be definitely a dream come true,” Ibeh said. “That would be amazing.”

He added: “It doesn’t matter where it is, I’m ready. Anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the UK. I would love to dance with him in the O2 Arena.

“I would definitely stop him, no questions about that, it’s going to come down to how soon or how quickly it goes.”

A cousin of heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi, Ibeh originally played American football in his athletic career.

His introduction to boxing came by chance when he was trying to sell life insurance to a coach at a gym.

“The trainer said: ‘If you want to talk to me and earn my time, you’ve got to get in the ring and spar with one of my guys.’ I never back down from a fight,” Ibeh reflected.

“I took my shirt off, put headgear on, and I went to work… I end up knocking him out.”

Ibeh’s message to Britain’s heavyweights: “I’m willing to come to their home, their backyard and entertain.

“I like AJ, he’s been my idol,” he said. “(But) I have mean intentions. For the sport, I would love to give him the work and challenge that he’s looking for.”

There’s a “small chance” Joshua could box before the end of this year, and he will fight early in 2026, potentially in February, his promoter Eddie Hearn previously told Sky Sports.

“If he fights this year, that will be a pure run-out. It won’t be a top 15 guy,” the promoter continued. “He’s either going to have those two fights before Tyson Fury – if that can get made – or he’s going to have the one fight in February.

“We haven’t really decided yet, but he’s keen to get active.” (The Guardian)