Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born in the UK in October 1989 to a Nigerian mother and a father of Nigerian and Irish descent.

Although he has always fought under a British flag, he spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, attending a boarding school, and the influence that Africa – and more specifically Nigeria – has had on him is clear for all to see and hear.

Joshua has an outline tattoo of the continent on his right shoulder, with Nigeria’s border also highlighted, while he has used the music of Nigerian icons like Burna Boy and Femi Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, to accompany him on previous ring-walks.

His fights are shown on specially erected screens in front of the palace of the Akarigbo in Sagamu, the Nigerian town’s paramount ruler.

“The Joshua family is well known in this town. His mother is from my domain and we are related as cousins,” Osiberu tells BBC Sport Africa.

“AJ is level-headed and committed to what he does. He is very humble and doesn’t allow his success to get to his head. Beyond that, he loves to connect with his roots.

“We wish him the best and will continue to pray for him.”