By Daily Sports Nigeria on October 2, 2025

German-Nigerian heavyweight prospect Emanuel Odiase has boldly declared he will become a world champion by 2027, setting an ambitious timeline for his ascent to the top of the division.

The 26-year-old, who is managed by Anthony Joshua’s 258MGT team, has boxed exclusively in his native Germany and across British shores, where he is based.

The 6ft 8in heavyweight caught the eye sparring with two-time unified world champion Joshua over a fortnight in March 2021. They kept in touch and the rest, as they say, is history. Joshua’s management team took on the Wolverhampton-based prospect, who has sparred several world champions and domestic contenders in recent years.

Odiase, the youngest of four sons with dual German-Nigerian heritage, has compiled an impressive 8-0 record with seven knockouts since turning professional.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the heavyweight outlined his plans for the coming years.

“I’ve been saying that in 2027, I’ll be a world champion. Two years go by quick, we’ve been working with different world champions, I just take it step-by-step. I’ll be going for European titles next year and in 2027, have a world championship belt around my waist,” Odiase said.

The heavyweight has gained valuable experience sparring undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk and long-reigning former WBC title holder Deontay Wilder in previous years. He added an anecdote about sparring with the latter during his prime years that has merely built up his confidence.

“I sparred Wilder as a 10-fight amateur, and it went well, just experience at the end of the day. I saw him warming up as an undefeated knockout artist [at the time], I was nervous being out there (in America) seeing as he’d knocked everyone out,” Odiase recalled.

“I flew over there, his coach Jay Deas warned me that ‘look, he’s been knocking out sparring partners too…’ you’re thinking it’s about to go down, but at the end of the day, I’m made for this.”

As far as potential opponents, Odiase kept his cards close to his chest but hinted at a ‘stadium fight worth millions’ between him and another name with Nigerian heritage in Moses Itauma, who holds a 13-0 record with 11 knockouts.

Itauma, ranked 9th by Ring Magazine in the heavyweight division, represents one of several prospects with Nigerian connections making waves in the heavyweight ranks. The 20-year-old British-Nigerian has been tipped as one of boxing’s brightest young talents and could provide Odiase with a significant test as both fighters climb the rankings.

Source Punch Ng

Posted October 2, 2025

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