Sports
3 Nigerians Who Became World Boxing Champions
Over the years, several Nigerian fighters have risen from humble beginnings to become world champions, earning respect in the most competitive boxing arenas.
Their stories are not just tales of victory in the ring but testaments to determination, hard work, and the fighting spirit that defines the Nigerian ethos.
From legendary heavyweights to champions in lighter divisions, these boxers have put Nigeria on the world map, carrying the hopes of a nation into every fight.
Nigeria has produced amazing boxers, such as Ike Ibeabuchi and Efe Ajagba, however, in this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the greatest Nigerian-born boxers who have conquered the world, making history and inspiring generations to come.
Dick Tiger (Richard Ihetu)
Born in August 14, 1929, Tiger emigrated to Liverpool, England to pursue his boxing career and later moved to the United States.
Tiger became a two-time undisputed world middleweight champion and helped keep boxing alive during the 1950s boxing industry recession.
Tiger won the WBA middleweight title when he beat Gene Fullmer on October 23, 1962, and the light heavyweight title in 1966 when he dethroned José Torres of Puerto Rico.
Tiger was Igbo and served as a Lieutenant in the Biafran army during the Nigerian Civil War, primarily training soldiers in hand-to-hand combat.
After retiring from boxing, Tiger worked as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. One day, he felt a strong pain in his back. Tested by doctors, he was diagnosed with liver cancer.
He was banned by the Nigerian government because of his involvement in the Biafran movement; however, the ban was lifted immediately after news about his condition arrived in Nigeria. He died of liver cancer on 14 December 1971 in Aba, Nigeria, at the age of 42.
Samuel Peter
In his prime, he was known for his rivalry with the Klitschko brothers, having faced Vladimir twice (in 2005 and 2010) and Vitali once. He lost the title to Vitali Klitschko in 2008 during his first title defense.
Peter, born on September 6, 1980, was named among the 20 greatest athletes in the history of independent Nigeria by The Punch in 2023, while his capturing of the WBC heavyweight title was ranked the 26th most memorable moment in independent Nigeria’s sports history by Premium Times in 2020.
He was ranked by The Ring among ten best heavyweights at the conclusion of a year from 2005 to 2008, reaching his highest ranking of world No.2 in 2007.
Peter, who is from Akwa Ibom State, is known for his punching power and holds a 78.9% knockout-to-win ratio. He is the nephew of Nigerian professional wrestler Great Power Uti.
Peter is a devout Christian who neither drinks nor smokes. He retired from boxing in 2019 after a long career, but still occasionally competes in exhibition fights. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Anthony Joshua
Joshua began boxing in 2007, aged 18, when his cousin suggested he take it up. He held the unified world heavyweight championship twice between 2016 and 2021.
At regional level, he held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2015 to 2016.
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Joshua was born 15 October 1989. He represented England at the 2011 World Championships in the super-heavyweight division, winning a silver medal. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, winning gold.
In 2014, a year after turning professional, he was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine.