World boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s family in Sagamu, Ogun State, and youths in the town are in jubilant mood after Joshua, whose parents are from Sagamu, defeated New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in their unification fight at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday, saying the special prayers they organised for the boxer’s victory worked.
Joshua’s uncle Adedamola told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday that the boxer’s success in Saturday’s fight was as a result of their prayers for him.
“We are very happy that our prayers were answered. We know that with this win now, it is going to get tougher because Anthony is on the road to do what no one has done in the category he boxes in (the heavyweight division),” he said.
“The family is grateful to the whole Sagamu people, who came out to watch the fight and supported him on Saturday. We knew that the supporters of his opponents would also be praying for him to win. But we are excited that God answered our own prayers and Anthony won the fight.”
Adedamola described the fight as the toughest his nephew had fought in recent times, saying they never feared he could lose the bout despite its intensity.