Las Vegas awaits for heavyweight king Joshua

Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is nearing the latest defence of his three world titles, with a number of huge fights awaiting him should he pick up his 23rd win and maintain his unbeaten record. The Londoner, whose parents hail from Nigeria’s Yoruba people, will make his North American debut when he faces Jarrell Miller in New York in June. Having failed to agree a unification fight against the division’s other champion, Deontay Wilder, Joshua will now come up against the colorful Miller in the American’s home town. 

For Joshua’s fans, 80,000 of which packed Wembley Stadium for Joshua’s last title defence, this will be the first time they’ve been able to travel to America to watch their man, although they’ll be hoping it isn’t the last. A mega fight against Wilder has long been touted, and the bright lights of Las Vegas would be the ideal location for such a fight if a deal could be agreed. British fight fans have a long history of traveling in large numbers to Las Vegas to support boxers, making the most of what Las Vegas has to offer as well as supporting their man in the ring. 

Las Vegas is widely regarded as boxing’s capital, a sport that has long been associated with Sin City in the same way the casino industry has. The birth of online casinos has seen numbers drop on the Las Vegas Strip, but boxing’s popularity is as big as it has been for over 50 years. This brand and its innovative wheel of rizk is taking Canada by storm, with the industry’s biggest names focusing their energy in the online world. But the 20,000+ British boxing fans that would travel to Vegas to watch Joshua vs. Wilder wouldn’t be there for the one-armed bandits and blackjack – they’d be going to see their man unify the heavyweight division. 

While Joshua won Olympic Gold for Great Britain, he’s always worn his love of Nigeria on his sleeve – or on his arm, which features a tattoo of Africa. The 29-year old, whose parents emigrated to London before Joshua was born, recently highlighted his Nigerian heritage when he was filmed in his kitchen making a cassava flakes delicacy popularly known as eba, while a Nigerian song by legendary musician King Sunny Ade played in the background. 

😂😂 who sent you ? @anthonyfjoshua pic.twitter.com/mU4jKWrReA— Shalomdtemple ThegreatMassause (@Shalomdtemple) April 6, 2019

Joshua will have his work cut out when he steps in the ring against Miller on June 1st. The New Yorker is unbeaten in his 23 professional fights, 20 of which have come by way of knockout – and some feel Miller has what it takes to cause a huge upset. Coming into the sport from the world of kickboxing, Miller has had to work hard to get to where he is now, earning this shot at the heavyweight crown due to a mixture of talent and talking. While there might have been other fighters with a stronger claim at Joshua, Miller has done everything to make this fight personal, enhancing the interest and giving the promoters enough reason to go with the American.