Anthony Joshua’s Planned Ghana Fight in Doubt After Tragic Death

Anthony Joshua’s anticipated return to the ring in early 2026 is now unlikely to take place in Ghana, as originally discussed by Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

Hearn had recently highlighted Ghana as a potential host for Joshua’s comeback fight. However, following the tragic death of local light-heavyweight boxer Ernest Akushey—also known as “Bahubali”—those plans appear to be off the table.

Akushey, 32, sustained fatal injuries during a bout at Accra’s Bukom Boxing Arena on September 12. His passing has prompted Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA) to suspend boxing activities across the country while launching a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The NSA, led by Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has confirmed that the current suspension is temporary but necessary to address inadequate health and safety standards in Ghanaian boxing.

“Every day, the investigation takes a new direction,” Ankrah told MAX TV GHANA. “We need to act quickly to fix this. Boxing cannot continue the way it has.”

Ankrah also criticized the lack of communication from the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), stating that recent interactions have been largely unproductive. He has called for GBA elections to appoint a new president before the end of 2025.

In a troubling development, GhanaWeb reported that former GBA president Abraham Kotei Neequaye had previously declared Akushey medically unfit to compete. Despite this, his successor Roger Barnor, who took office in June, approved Akushey’s return to the ring earlier this month.

Given these events, and with the future of boxing in Ghana currently in flux, Joshua’s long-rumored debut on African soil now seems highly unlikely to take place there—at least in the near future.

Joshua, 28-4 (25 KOs), last fought in September 2024, when he suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.