by Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champion of the world who lost his belt to Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the autumn of 2021, is back in the ring and looking to extend his unbeaten run to four after a rematch to lose to Usyk on a split. decision.
Joshua’s latest fight is a bout with Francis Ngannou, a dual citizen of France and Cameroon, a former UFC heavyweight champion who now fights in MMA for the Professional Fighter League. Ngannou made his professional boxing debut last October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, losing the 10-round ‘Battle of the Baddest’ to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on a split decision after knocking the Lancastrian to the canvas in the third round.
Ngannou faces Joshua over 10 rounds again at the top of a bill called ‘Knockout Chaos’. Joshua is confident he can win the non-title bout in a similar fashion to the way he finished Otto Wallin in five rounds last December, telling Sky Sports: “I believe I can do it to strike out. Definitely. I would love to punch it out and make a statement. Physically I feel strong, feeling good. Strong enough to do the job and mentally I’m in a place where I’m ready for war. I look forward to the challenge.”
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When is Joshua v Ngannou?
The bout is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 2024. The undercard starts at 4pm GMT with Joshua v Ngannou to be around 11pm.
Why is the fight on Friday?
The fight is taking place on Friday, rather than the usual Saturday night, to avoid a clash with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on March 9. The Grand Prix itself was brought forward a day so as not to interfere with the start of Ramadan. Sunday.
Where is the fight taking place?
The bout will be contested in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, which is making a big play to become a new premium destination for global sporting events. Joshua fought there recently when he defeated Wallin.
How can I watch it in the UK?
The fight is being shown exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Box Office for a pay-per-view fee for Sky customers of £19.95 or €24.95 in the Republic of Ireland. Customers outside the UK and Ireland can watch it on DAZN for a PPV fee of £19.99.
Telegraph Sport will be running a round-by-round live blog with up-to-date input from Gareth A Davies in Saudi Arabia.
Who is on the card below?
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Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker for the WBO interim heavyweight title
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Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball for the WBC featherweight title
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Mark Chamberlain vs Gavin Gwynne
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Jack McGann vs. Louis Greene
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Andrii Novytskyi vs Juan Torres
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Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena
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Ziyad Almaayuf vs Christian Lopes Flores
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Roman Fury vs. Martin Svarc
What are the latest options?
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Joshua to win 1/4
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Ngannou to win 3/1
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Draw 16/1
Bet on the fight? First look at the best betting sites ahead of the great tribulation
The latest news
Tyson Fury finished the press conference for Anthony Joshua’s fight with Francis Ngannou and barracked the Cameroonian boxer who floored him and took him the distance last October.
Joshua and the former mixed martial arts fighter step into the ring in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, on Friday evening and Ngannou is still hoping for a split decision loss to Fury, which he claims should have been gone
Fury and Ngannou clashed at a pre-fight event on Tuesday night with the British boxer accusing his rival of calling him a “crazy and yellow belly”.
The war of words continued yesterday at the press conference with Fury shouting comments from the front row.
Joshua remained calm but Ngannou retorted: “I’ve just started, the road is long, I want one more win over Tyson Fury, and I intend to have the second one. I intend to get many big wins like this [against Joshua].
“You [Fury] going to sleep in the [ring] again and I’m going to wipe the ring with your a— again. The boxing ring protects you. Outside the ring I would beat you every day and twice on Sunday.”
Before the exchanges, Dewey Cooper, Ngannou’s trainer, explained that his boxer had “made improvements in every aspect” and that on Friday the world would see “Francis’ fast, blazing fists – that will finish Anthony Joshua.”
Ben Davison, the trainer who is now in his second fight with Joshua, said that his man would have no chance. “We’re prepared for every situation,” Davison said, “and when you think almost everyone was disrespectful [of Ngannou] last time, I still think it will be a whole new experience. We underestimated him and prepared him to add new layers to his game.”
Joshua was also measured in his assessment of the task ahead. “I’m not underestimating Francis,” he said. “His first dream was to be a boxer and people forget that; he has been doing this since a young age. I look at all these details. But the textbook goes out the window when the bell rings.
“You have to be relentless. It is written in the stars I am going to fulfill my destiny.”
Speaking about the investment in boxing by Saudi Arabia, he said: “I feel the pressure, and we have to entertain.
“I have shared the ring with Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker [both fighting on the card] Now I am sharing the ring with Francis. One day I will share the ring with Tyson [Fury]. Let’s go, the best man will always win. It’s not rocket science.”
If Joshua beats Ngannou on Friday night here, all the talk will turn to the outcome of Fury’s fight against Oleksandr Usyk in May as they fight for the undisputed heavyweight crown, with the prospect of the big hurdle looming that between Joshua and Fury. It may just happen.
Why is Joshua vs Ngannou not a gimmick
Anthony Joshua labeled Francis Ngannou a “gimmick” of the heavyweight division when the former UFC star fought world champion Fury back in October.
Now the British heavyweight is challenged to face Ngannou and he announced that he would “take his soul” in the ring as they rumbled in Riyadh.
There is more than a little danger for Joshua when the two giant punchers collide in an event labeled ‘Knockout Chaos’.
The march towards the Middle East continues, with more connections and deeper investment. There is no “gimmick” in the growing presence of big boxing fights in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Minister Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Authority for Entertainment and Seasons of Riyadh, has expressed his intention and signed Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang to the card.
British rival promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn will also shake it up with a card, bringing five fighters from each of their stables to go up against each other.
Promoter George Warren, son of Frank Warren who works closely with Al-Sheikh, told Sports telegraph: “I believe they are here for the long term in the sport. This is getting bigger and bigger, and the investment in boxing is here for the long term.”
His father, Frank, said boxing is “being revolutionized”. Boxing’s penchant for politics and procrastination is being turned on its head by these bouts, which are bringing together the greatest fighters of their lifetime.
Joshua, fresh from a stunning performance against Otto Wallin in December and newly revamped under young trainer Ben Davison, is flying high at the moment. It showed in his business-like demeanor in the face of Ngannou, embedded in a golden Cape with track-suitable British attire.
Joshua is confident right now; physically and mentally. “You have to take a person’s soul, you have to take their spirit. And I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge,” said Joshua, adding that the contest will be an “explosive” encounter.
It certainly will. But as we saw with Ngannou when he knocked Fury down in the third round of their fight back in October, he is a fighter capable of carpe diem moments. Sitting backstage with Ngannou just before the news conference, the 6ft 6ins 20 stone fighter rubbed his hands together.
“I won a long time ago, with what happened to me in life,” smiled Ngannou. “Did I enter the heavyweight division against Tyson Fury… ? Watch me the world opposes Anthony Joshua. The shock of the world. Bring change.”
Who can stand in front of Ngannou and doubt him with the extraordinary narrative arc behind his life. Just like boxing itself at the moment. Bringing change – and the dawn of a new day.
