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, who announced his return to MMA for the first time since January 2022 against the 6ft 8in Renan Ferreira later this year, takes on Joshua over 10 rounds again at the top of a bill dubbed ‘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.”
When is Joshua v Ngannou?
The bout is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 2024 and the show starts at 4pm GMT.
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.
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 featuring contributions of up to a minute 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
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, expressed his intention and Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang signed a March card.
British rival promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn will duke it out on a card later this year, bringing five fighters from each of their stables to face each other. Warren and Hearn shook hands on stage as the Saudi minister announced the deal – with more to come, notably Tyson Fury’s undisputed heavyweight bout with Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh. Fury is already in Saudi Arabia for an eight-week camp while Ngannou leaves for the Kingdom on Tuesday.
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 in their lives.
The next two months bring two of the biggest heavyweight events of the year: Fury has his work cut out against Usyk with two unbought fighters at some epoch-defining moments in May. Joshua puts his own reputation on the line against the dangerous Ngannou, whose storyline from growing up in poverty and digging in a sand quarry as a teenager to becoming an all-powerful cage fighter in Las Vegas is a Hollywood script in itself. From there, it has the potential to lead to the biggest and richest all-British fight of all time: Fury versus Joshua. It could happen. It’s getting closer.
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.
