Joshua Clottey to fight Prince Patel in March 2025 on Independence Day Rumble

Former IBF Welterweight Champion Joshua "Grand Master" Clottey has announced his highly anticipated return to boxing in March 2025.

The Ghanaian legend will face Britain's Indian-born boxer Prince Patel (31-1-2) in a match organized by Box Office Promotions as part of the annual Independence Day Rumble.

Speaking on The Big Fight Night show, Clottey expressed his confidence and determination, vowing to stop and retire Patel in front of his home fans. "I’m ready to give the fans an unforgettable performance," said Clottey, who enjoyed a storied career from 1995 to 2019 and claimed the IBF welterweight title between 2008 and 2009.

Clottey, born in 1977, is renowned for his resilience and defensive mastery, earning a reputation as one of the toughest boxers of his era. Remarkably, he was never stopped in any of his five career losses. At his peak, Clottey shared the ring with boxing greats, including a memorable bout against Manny Pacquiao, which, despite ending in defeat, remains a highlight of his career.

A product of Ghana’s famed Black Panthers Gym, founded by the late Coach Akisi (Emmanuel Tagoe), Clottey plans to cap his legacy by thrilling fans once again in the upcoming fight.

Prince Patel, a four-star-rated boxer born in 1993, has accepted the challenge with enthusiasm, stating his readiness to compete in Ghana again. Patel has an impressive résumé, including holding the IBO bantamweight title from December 2023 to April 2024. He is also a former Commonwealth super-flyweight and African super-flyweight champion, making him the first boxer of Indian descent to win Commonwealth, WBA, and IBF titles.

Patel last fought in Ghana on November 24, 2024, at the Bukom Boxing Arena, where he defeated Maxwell Awuku to claim the IBF Pan African and UBO World Welterweight titles.

With both fighters eager to prove themselves, the March 2025 bout promises to be a spectacular showdown for boxing fans.