AFCON 2025
Former Big Brother Naija star and professional boxer Mike Edwards, popularly known as “Machine Mike,” has announced his return to the boxing ring.
Edwards confirmed on Sunday that he has signed with Muka Boxing and will headline an event in Dubai on November 7, 2026, marking his first fight in two years.
“I’m proud to officially announce that I’ve signed with @mukaboxing — and on November 7th, I’M BACK,” Edwards announced.
The 34-year-old last competed on August 31, 2024, in Dublin, Ireland, where he defeated Jake Cornish by unanimous decision over five rounds on a Misfits Boxing card.
That victory remains Edwards’ only professional boxing appearance, leaving him with a 1–0 professional record heading into his comeback.
Edwards, who finished as runner-up on Big Brother Naija in 2019, has a background in track and field and transitioned into boxing after his reality television career.
Reflecting on the two-year absence, the Nigerian-born athlete said the period away from competition had been marked by personal growth and work behind the scenes.
“There’s been a lot of life lived between that last bell and this one. A lot of growth. A lot of work behind the scenes. But the mission never changed,” he said.
Now based in Dubai, Edwards described his upcoming headline appearance as a homecoming.
“HEADLINING IN THE CITY I NOW CALL HOME.”
The November 7 event is being promoted as “The Return,” although Edwards’ opponent has yet to be announced. Details regarding the venue, tickets and the rest of the fight card are also yet to be released.
Edwards is additionally offering a limited number of sponsorship and brand partnership opportunities covering his training camp, fight week, media activities, content and fight night.
His return will attract interest from Nigerian sports fans, particularly given his crossover from reality television into professional boxing. His 2024 victory provided a winning start to his professional career, but the two-year layoff will raise questions over how quickly he can regain his competitive sharpness.
For now, the focus is on November 7, when Machine Mike returns to the ring in Dubai.
