Boxing champ Anthony Joshua makes Afrobeat entrance at Clash on the Dunes

During the announcement of the arrival of the title challenger, Femi Kuti’s 'Fight to Win' was aired to the delight of roaring fans, immediately after Femi's live cover version of ‘Water No Get Enemy’, Fela Kuti’s 1975 classic. The atmosphere was charged and set the stage for an epic 12-round bout that was tagged ‘Clash on the Dunes’.

The British pugilist is known for consistently connecting with his Nigerian roots and spent parts of his childhood in Nigeria. A fan of Afrobeat, he visited the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos in July, a few weeks after his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in New York, considered to be one of biggest upsets in boxing history.

On social media, Joshua chronicled his visit to the Shrine, the home of Afrobeat, where the Kuti family and hundreds of enthusiastic fans welcomed him. He described the visit as “powerful moments” and shared a video with 'Fight to Win' as its soundtrack to millions of his followers.

For many boxing fans around the world, the sound of Afrobeat with apt motivational titles, ushering the champion to his fight, was a moment of pride. Joshua made history by winning the fight via a unanimous decision, reclaiming the unified heavyweight WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO titles to wild celebrations worldwide.

Joshua was naturally the favourite of African and British fans who were rooting for him to win back the titles he lost just six months before. He joins boxing greats Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis in reclaiming his title in an immediate rematch.

Perhaps it was the uplifting nature of Afrobeat that helped the great sportsman reach this feat.