Joe Giudice is not only preparing for his big fight against Jennifer Lopez’s first ex-husband, Ojani Noa, in the gym — but also in the kitchen, he tells In Touch exclusively.
“I’m on a strict and special Mediterranean diet. The recipes will be added to my cookbook which will be out this year,” the dad of four, 52, reveals to In Touch ahead of his February 8 bout set to take place at the Kendall Isaac Gymnasium in Nassau, Bahamas.
Doors will be opening at 7 p.m. for the event, which will be streamed live and part of a celebrity boxing show that will be hosted by Das Quay and featuring beats by DJ Ignite. Kimbo Slice Jr. is also set to make his fighting debut in the Bahamas.
It will be a family event for the former Real Housewives of New Jersey star as Joe’s daughter Gia Giudice is going to be ring announcer, and his niece Julianna Giudice will be a ring girl.
Joe — who shares daughters Gia, 24, Gabriella, 21, Milania, 18, and Audriana, 15 — with ex-wife Teresa Giudice, is being represented by talent manager Dominique Enchinton, owner of Dominton Talent House. Joe and Teresa tied the knot 1999 and divorced in 2020.
Ojani, who was wed to J. Lo from 1997 to 1998, has also been gearing up for the face off, sharing photos of himself hitting the weights ahead of their big day.
“Thank you 2024 for everything. THANK YOU for the happiness, for the unhappiness. For the opportunities,” he captioned a post-workout photo. “Thank you for the ups and downs, for the good and bad times, the sleepless nights. Thank you for everything you put me through, for the things you took away. Thank you for the strength, for [becoming] a stronger person. I really thank you for all those things and more. I appreciate you. I don’t [regret] one bit … 2025 Let’s do it again. I am ready.”
As for Joe, it has been roughly five years since he was deported from the United States following his release from prison in March 2019 after serving 41 months for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud.
He was then transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and deported to Italy before relocating to the Bahamas.
Joe shared a life update during a January 29 appearance on his ex-wife’s podcast, “Turning the Tables with Teresa Giudice.”
When it comes to what he misses the most about living in the U.S., Joe admitted, “Well, I mean, you got friends, family. I mean, everything.”
“You grow up someplace, you get used to everything. I mean, that’s why I adapt[ed] here in the Bahamas, Nassau, because it’s kind of like Americanized, and I always see American people here. So, I kind of feel like I’m close to home,” he said.
“When I was in Italy, it wasn’t really the same. It was nice, but it just felt far. Like, here, it’s close. It’s only two-and-a-half hours away, and I guess because everybody comes and visits me, I don’t feel like I’m too far.”
