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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has announced plans to establish boxing academies across Nigeria as part of efforts to develop young talents and revive the country’s boxing industry.
Mayweather, who spoke during a visit to Nigeria on Friday, said the initiative would involve organising boxing events, identifying promising fighters and providing opportunities for young Africans to develop their careers.
He said Africa had enormous untapped talent, adding that he was committed to supporting the continent beyond his sporting achievements.
“My mission is always to be able to touch the people of Africa. I mean, Africa is the best continent in the world. And it is always good to come back and receive the love from our people, to be able to touch the people, to let them know that if Floyd Mayweather did it, you guys can do it too,” he said.
On plans to organise a series of fights to promote young boxers, Mayweather said: “Just the continent of Africa has so much talent. Africa has all the best resources in the world. And the music is amazing. The people are amazing.
“It’s so beautiful to just come back here and be embraced by my people. So we look forward to coming over here, doing some fights, looking for talent over in Africa.”
Also speaking, Dr Adrian Ogun, Consultant, TMT Africa, said Mayweather had fulfilled a promise he made during his previous visit to Abuja in 2022 to return to Nigeria and promote boxing among young people.
Ogun said the proposed programme, involving TMT Africa and Front Row Fight Series, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Keane Anis, would commence with a series of boxing events in early 2027.
He said the initiative would not be restricted to Abuja and Lagos but would extend to other cities, including Enugu and Calabar.
According to him, the programme would provide boxing academies, technical expertise and equipment to support young fighters and develop the country’s boxing talent pool.
“We have suffered from a problem where all of our boxers have gone abroad to develop themselves. Those that were able to get that opportunity,” Ogun said.
He cited Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba as an example of a talent who had to pursue his professional development outside the country.
Ogun said the initiative would also create opportunities for Nigerian boxers to gain international exposure through partnerships with boxing facilities abroad.
He proposed a partnership between Nigerian boxing academies and Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas to improve training standards and provide young fighters with access to international expertise.
He said Mayweather was also interested in investing in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, adding that the boxing legend’s interest in the country extended beyond sports.
Speaking on the proposed investment, Mayweather said his interest was not solely about making money but also about ensuring that Africans benefited from their natural resources.
“It’s not just about making money in Africa. It’s about making money all around the world, but also giving back to the people,” he said.
“Telling the people that you guys should own your resources. You guys should keep your resources in-house.”
On whether he would stage a boxing bout in Nigeria, Ogun said he believed Mayweather had the intention of returning to organise an event in the country, although the details were yet to be finalised.
He also said the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control was supportive of efforts to revitalise the sport, adding that he had met with the organisation as part of moves to collaborate on the initiative.
Meanwhile, Mayweather is scheduled to face Australian light heavyweight boxer Matt “The Jedi” Floyd in an exhibition bout in Bangkok, Thailand, on 19 December 2026.
According to promotional details released by the organisers, Nigerian fans can purchase pay-per-view access to the event through theorderpromotions.com/ng for an opportunity to enter a $5,000 cash prize draw.
The promotional entry deadline is Monday, 16 November 2026, subject to the stated terms and eligibility requirements.
Mayweather urged African youths to remain determined and believe in their abilities.
“My message to the African youth, keep believing. Keep working hard. Know you guys are number one. Africa, know you guys are number one,” he said.
