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Anthony Joshua could revisit the Rumble in the Jungle as part of an “iconic” bout around the 50th anniversary of the legendary fight, says Eddie Hearn.<\/span><\/p>\n Promoter Hearn says talks have taken place over the heavyweight contender fighting in Africa, and that government backing for an event is available.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Joshua, 34, has Nigerian ancestry but has never fought on the continent.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s something that would be iconic for the sport,” Hearn told <\/span>BBC World Service’s Newsday<\/span><\/a> of the proposals.<\/span><\/p>\n “When we’re visiting these countries, there’s government funding to stage these events.<\/span><\/p>\n “Sometimes that isn’t forthcoming in all areas but there have been discussions and I think it will happen in time.”<\/span><\/p>\n Muhammad Ali and George Foreman contested the heavyweight world championship in Zaire – now Democratic Republic of Congo – in October 1974 in one of the greatest fights of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n Both men were champions during the long careers that made them legends, with <\/span>Ali knocking out Foreman in the eighth round<\/span><\/a> to win the WBA, WBC and Ring titles.<\/span><\/p>\n Joshua held the WBA belt for a combined total of almost four years and has been IBF, WBO and IBO champion, although he is currently aiming to win back the titles he <\/span>failed to regain from Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk<\/span><\/a> in Saudi Arabia in August 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n The 2012 Olympic gold medallist, who grew up in London after his parents emigrated from Nigeria before he was born, remains one of the biggest ticket-sellers in the sport and has called himself “proudly Nigerian and proudly British”, sporting a tattoo of Africa with Nigeria outlined on his right shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n “With that anniversary approaching, we’ve often talked about a big Anthony Joshua fight – even revisiting the famous scenes in Zaire of the Rumble in the Jungle,” said Hearn.<\/span><\/p>\n “We’ve had a couple of approaches. Obviously, Anthony Joshua – with his Nigerian descent – is always keen to visit and stage a major event there.<\/span><\/p>\n “Visually, it would be incredible and something Anthony would love to tick off the box before the end of his career.”<\/span><\/p>\n Despite its lasting resonance, the Rumble in the Jungle remains the last time a fight of such scale took place in Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n