From left to right, Dr Adrian Ogun, Consultant TMT Africa, Floyd Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions and Keane Anis, CEO TMT Africa
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Former world boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr., has announced plans to establish boxing academies in different parts of Nigeria as part of a major initiative to discover young talents, strengthen grassroots boxing and create international career opportunities for aspiring fighters.
Mayweather unveiled the initiative during his visit to Nigeria on Friday, expressing his readiness to support the development of boxing across the country through talent identification, organised competitions and partnerships with international boxing facilities.
The boxing legend said Africa was blessed with enormous untapped talent and resources, noting that he was committed to giving back to the continent and inspiring young Africans to pursue their dreams.
“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’s 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.
Explaining his plans to organise boxing competitions to identify emerging fighters, Mayweather said Africa had exceptional sporting potential that deserved greater international attention.
“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,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Adrian Ogun, Consultant, TMT Africa, disclosed that Mayweather’s latest visit represented the fulfilment of a promise he made during his previous visit to Abuja in 2022 to return to Nigeria and promote boxing development among young people.
Ogun said the proposed initiative, involving TMT Africa and Front Row Fight Series, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Keane Anis, would begin with a series of boxing events in early 2027.
He explained that the programme would cover several Nigerian cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Calabar, stressing that the objective was to make boxing development accessible beyond the country’s major sporting centres.
According to him, the initiative would establish boxing academies, provide technical expertise and supply equipment to support the training and development of young fighters.
Ogun identified the migration of Nigerian boxers abroad in search of professional development opportunities as one of the major challenges facing the country’s boxing industry.
“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,” he said.
He referenced Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba, who pursued his professional development outside the country, as an example of the challenges confronting local boxing talents.
Ogun said the proposed academies would help address the situation by creating opportunities for fighters to develop their abilities within Nigeria while benefiting from international exposure.
He also proposed establishing partnerships between the Nigerian academies and Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas, United States, to improve training standards and provide young Nigerian boxers with access to international coaching expertise.
The initiative has also received support from the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, according to Ogun, who disclosed that he had met with the organisation as part of efforts to secure its collaboration in revitalising the sport.
Beyond boxing, Mayweather is also interested in exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, indicating that his engagement with the country extends beyond sports.
The former world champion said his interest in Africa was not simply about generating financial returns but also about ensuring that the continent’s people benefit 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 expressed the belief that Mayweather intended to return to organise an event in the country, although specific details were yet to be concluded.
Meanwhile, Mayweather is scheduled to face Australian light heavyweight boxer Matt “The Jedi” Floyd in an exhibition bout in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 19, 2026.
Promotional information released by the organisers indicates that Nigerian fans can purchase pay-per-view access to the event through theorderpromotions.com/ng, with an opportunity to enter a $5,000 cash prize draw.
The promotional entry deadline is Monday, November 16, 2026, subject to the stated terms and eligibility requirements.
Mayweather also encouraged African youths to remain focused, believe in their abilities and continue working hard towards achieving their ambitions.
“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.
The proposed boxing academies and international partnerships are expected to create a platform for nurturing the next generation of Nigerian fighters, strengthening the country’s boxing ecosystem and opening new pathways for local talents to compete internationally.
