Former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has announced plans to establish boxing academies across Nigeria as part of efforts to discover young talents, develop professional fighters and revitalise the country’s boxing industry.
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Mayweather, who disclosed the plans during a visit to Nigeria, said the initiative would involve organising boxing events, identifying promising fighters and providing opportunities for young Africans to develop their careers.
The boxing legend expressed confidence in Africa’s sporting potential, describing the continent as a place with enormous untapped talent and resources.
“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.
Speaking on plans to organise a series of boxing events to promote emerging talents, Mayweather reiterated his commitment to identifying and supporting promising fighters across the continent.
“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 stated.
Providing further details of the proposed initiative, Dr. Adrian Ogun, Consultant at TMT Africa, disclosed that Mayweather was fulfilling a promise he made during his previous visit to Abuja in 2022 to return to Nigeria and support the development of boxing among young people.
According to Ogun, the programme would involve TMT Africa and Front Row Fight Series, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Keane Anis, with a series of boxing events expected to commence in early 2027.
He explained that the initiative would not be limited to Abuja and Lagos but would also extend to other cities, including Enugu and Calabar, to provide opportunities for young fighters across different parts of the country.
Ogun said the programme would include the establishment of boxing academies and the provision of technical expertise and equipment to improve training standards and strengthen Nigeria’s boxing talent pool.
He expressed concern that many talented Nigerian boxers had been compelled to travel abroad to pursue professional development because of limited opportunities within the country.
“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 fighter who pursued his professional development outside Nigeria.
To address the challenge, Ogun disclosed plans to create international training opportunities through partnerships between Nigerian boxing academies and established boxing facilities abroad.
He specifically proposed a partnership with Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas to enable young Nigerian boxers to benefit from international expertise, improved training facilities and greater exposure to professional boxing.
According to him, the proposed collaboration would help develop local talents while providing young fighters with opportunities to advance their careers without depending entirely on relocating abroad.
Ogun also disclosed that 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.
Beyond boxing, Ogun revealed that Mayweather had expressed interest in investing in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, indicating that his planned involvement in the country extended beyond sporting activities.
Speaking on his investment interests, Mayweather said his objective was not limited to financial gains but also included supporting Africans to benefit from the resources available on the continent.
“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 the possibility of Mayweather staging a boxing bout in Nigeria, Ogun said he believed the former world champion intended to return to organise an event in the country, although the details had not been finalised.
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.
According to promotional details released by the organisers, Nigerian fans can purchase pay-per-view access to the fight through theorderpromotions.com/ng for 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 young Africans to remain focused, work hard and believe in their potential to succeed.
“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.
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