Anthony Joshua will face former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. The former heavyweight champion, who defeated Otto Wallin before Christmas, will return to Riyadh for a surprise date with Ngannou.
The 37-year-old Cameroonian is a UFC champion but has only fought one technical fight, narrowly missed a concussion when knocked out Tyson Fury in October before losing by decision.
He returned to Saudi Arabia to fight Joshua and plans to fight Deontay Wilder went awry when the American lost to Joseph Parker.
Joshua, who has been without a belt since losing to Alexander Usyk in October, had originally hoped to fight Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic, but will now fight Ngannou.
@anthonyjoshua plays @francis_ngannou on a big night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – press conference in London on January 15th, details to come!
Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will compete in a heavyweight boxing match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabian Sports Authority chairman Turki al-Arasheh announced on television on Friday.
Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) failed to defeat Deontay Wilder in a long-awaited rematch in Riyadh on March 9, before Wilder was defeated by Joseph Parker last month.
Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will meet on March 8, a Friday. Unprecedented stuff for the former UFC heavyweight champion, who will fight Tyson Fury and now AJ in his first two pro boxing matches. ESPN story:https://t.co/BSBMowSIsI
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 6, 2024
Joshua’s victory over Wallin sets the stage for the former heavyweight champion’s 2023 fight. Ngannou, 36, made his boxing debut in October when he defeated heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh.
Two-time heavyweight champion Joshua regained the title from Ruiz in Riyadh in December 2019 but lost to Alexander Usyk in two fights.
Usyk faces threats in February. Fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship in Riyadh on the 17th, and this victory includes a rematch clause. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, said that a press conference will be held in London on January 15.
Two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will take on former UFC boxing champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, organizers have announced.
However, Wilder lost to New Zealand’s Joseph Parker last month before Joshua beat Otto Wallin later in the evening.
“Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou clash on big night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – press conference January 15th in London, more details to come soon!”
According to ESPN, the fight will take place in early March, a few weeks later, when WBC world champion Tyson Fury takes on WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champion Oleksandr Jusik for the world heavyweight championship.
Ngannou, who left the heavyweight division due to a contract dispute with the UFC and became a free agent in January of last year, made his professional boxing debut against Fury last October.
The Cameroonian-French fighter lost the non-title fight by split decision, but almost pulled the trigger when he dropped Fury in time with a left hook.
Following his loss to Fury, Ngannou was ranked 10th in the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight division. Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will face each other in a boxing match, according to fight sports spokesman Ariel Helwani.
Breaking:
Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua is a done deal, per @Turki_alalshikh.
Ten-round boxing match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
More: pic.twitter.com/e6Hsc6Fh70
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 5, 2024
This is a 10-round fight in Saudi Arabia, according to reports. A press conference will be held in London “later this month” to discuss the match. Ngannou signed a contract with the Professional Boxing Association in May 2023, allowing him to compete in professional boxing.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Joshua faces WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on October 28 in his first professional boxing fight. Joshua defeated Otto Wallin by KO in the fifth round on December 5. 23.
Joshua’s co-promoter Eddie Hearn appeared on The MMA Hour on December 11 to discuss the possibility of the two fighting. Anthony Joshua will fight Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua continued his quest to return to the heavyweight title with a five-round victory over Otto Wallin on December 23, but hopes of a rematch with Deontay Wilder were dashed as the American lost on the same card To Joseph Parker.
Former UFC champion Kannu knocked out Tyson Fury in his debut last October, although he still won the knockout and is currently ranked in the WBC’s top 10.
“Of course, he would have liked to have faced Deontay Wilder, but because of what happened with his fight, he put that opponent in this position.”
It’s a good fight for him (Joshua), maybe March 9, and the same for the media. Meet in a few days.
Francis Ngannou will return to the boxing ring later this year for a big fight with heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
The 37-year-old went on to say that one of the things that prompted “The Predator” to join the PFL was the chance to test himself in the boxing ring, having made his debut against Tyson Fury in October last year.
Perhaps the biggest problem in fighting game history. Fury’s split decision in Saudi Arabia, with Ngannou scoring the only penalty of the game, confirmed the Cameroonian boxer’s ambitions for many fans and now Ariel Helwani says ‘predator’
“Will return to Riyadh at the end of this year to carry out ten strikes. Meet Joshua. While a date for the biggest race of the year has yet to be announced.”
Helwani said a press conference will be held in London later this month to announce the race and more. Matchroom Boxing followed up on the headlines and announced that the fight date will be confirmed next week.
Joshua is one of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing and has won three fights this year after losing the heavyweight title to Alexander Usyk.
Boxers will no doubt be interested in seeing Ngannou perform well in his second boxing match following his exciting showdown with Fury, although one will question when “The Predator” plans to feature in this year’s PFL Take action for the first time.
Fans reacted as follows:
Ngannou should be 1-0 going into this
— Max James (@MaxJamestv) January 6, 2024
Wow, surprised they didn’t do the Hrgovic option.
— storyboardvisuals.co.uk (@SboardVisuals) January 6, 2024
Guessing Saudi plan is hoping Fury and AJ win. If they do what month would they likely have Fury AJ
— Chewy (@Chewy9991) January 6, 2024
Safe to say this guy made the correct career move pic.twitter.com/ShAJWaTlE7
— Dan Canobbio (@DanCanobbio) January 5, 2024
Done deal. pic.twitter.com/OMDZ4P2Q1t
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 5, 2024
If Francis gets it done he’s the HW goat across all combat sports https://t.co/MN14JGOrab
— Kenny Okoye🇳🇬 (@TruthfulUfcFan) January 5, 2024
Ngannou might actually win this one 😂😂😂🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/E9nSzrdfdi
— FootyTone (@FootyTone) January 5, 2024
Francis Ngannou is 100% going to brutally Knockout Anthony Joshua, 100%. pic.twitter.com/JShwxho0Id
— 🦇 (@Shadowiscold) January 5, 2024
Those saudis are so nice for giving this to us. Ngannou and his team are about to get paid again
— BigJonesEnergy (@BigJonesEnergy) January 5, 2024
