How eba and egusi helped Joshua beat Klitschko

Anthony Joshua, the world boxing champion born to Nigerian parents, has revealed that eating Nigerian staple, eba and egusi is part of the secret to his success in the ring.

Joshua spoke with Sportsbrand after the fight.

He said, “Very humbled and not just for myself, but for the people that have worked with me, so it is important that I can only repay by achieving things in the ring.

“My heart is with Nigeria, my heart is with Britain, I’m a Nigerian by blood, yes…Eating eba with egusi is the secret of success.”

The 27-year-old’s victory over two-time world champion Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 people at Wembley on Saturday has earned him £15m but he has also not forgotten his unpaid bill around his neighbourhood.

The boxer is prepared to give back to Nigeria and has said he would meet the governor of his state (Ogun) back in Nigeria to help the people.

“I’m even trying out to get to meet the governor, and go and get something back to Nigeria, even though we do small things for the country between my family and my mother, we help out the village she came from and If I could do more on a large scale, I’ll definitely come down there and associate myself more with Nigeria,” he said.

Back in London, the owner of the launderette where heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua has an open tab of around £120 has said the boxer has a “heart of gold”.

Muqeem Bakhtari, said “joker” Joshua was a still regular at his launderette, in Golders Green, north London, near the ex-council flat where the fighter still lives with his mum. He spoke with The Independent. On Saturday he earned him £15 million but he has not forgotten his unpaid bill.

Asked at the post-fight press conference if he was “ready for those people outside the Launderette” after his biggest win to date, Joshua said: “I’ve got to pay my debt there, number one. I’ve got a bill like that big (gesturing with his thumb and forefinger on his left hand). Hopefully he’ll swerve it.

“I’m a people’s person, on the estate, there was loads of us anyway so it’s pretty chilled. Everyone in the arena, I probably know 20,000 of these people. It’s crazy, I’m a local boy. So it’s no different, it’s no problem. As long as I’m not late for training I don’t mind the attention.”

Bakhtari said Joshua had been a regular since before winning his Olympic gold medal at London 2012 and his family often stopped by to pick up his laundry.

He said, “He is a joker – no his bill is nothing. He always jokes about it. It sometimes ranges from a fiver to a £100. He has no time so he sends in his family members. It’s minimal.

“The tab is always open to him and his family members – they are lovely people.”

Asked if the bill was a reported £120, he said: “Possibly, yes.”

Bakhtari added fame and fortune had not appeared to have changed the gentle 6ft 6ins giant.