Promoter Eddie Hearn has reportedly agreed to a deal to stage an event not involved Anthony Joshua on December 20 in Accra, Ghana.
Matchroom expands to Africa
Setting up an event in Ghana would be a business move for Hearn. He states that he a “very interesting offer” to stage an event during a recent visit in Accra. A lucrative site deal for a boxing event in Ghana makes it an attractive location.
The Ring reported that Matchroom boss Hearn says Anthony Joshua will not be on the December 20th card. AJ can fight in February 2026 in Accra.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) could fight in a “Run out” type clash on an undercard in December, but it won’t be in Ghana. Hearn didn’t give any hints about who AJ might fight.
If Joshua fights in Ghana in February, it won’t be against Tyson Fury, and the odds of it being against Jake Paul are extremely low. A Joshua vs. Paul fight would be a commercial beast. To make the most money, it would have to be staged in a stadium in the US.
Olly Campbell’s take: Ghana isn’t Joshua’s home – it’s Hearn’s deal
It would be a strange place for former two-division world champion Joshua to reconnect with his African roots. His ancestors are from Nigeria, not Ghana. If AJ were to fight in Accra it would be more about a business angle because of the site fee.
Still, the fight could be marketed as an “African homecoming” for Joshua, which would pique fan interest in the same way it would if he fought in Nigeria. The average fan is not aware that AJ’s ancestry is from Nigeria in Africa.
So they would not be less interested in the event. If it’s just marketing for financial purposes, Ghana works just as well as Nigeria. It would be quite strange, by. If my ancestors were from the UK, I would have felt uncomfortable marketing a fight if I got back to my European roots by fighting in France. I couldn’t live with myself to do that.
Ideally, the “Africa homecoming” angle should be left out of the marketing of Joshua’s fight in Accra, Ghana, because there will be a backlash. Nigeria and Ghana are separated by 1000 miles.
Since 2015, Olly Campbell has brought readers clear ringside perspective and a solid voice on boxing’s biggest nights.
Last updated on 20/10/2025
