Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou will face each other in a boxing ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later this year.
The 10-round boxing match has been confirmed by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. Further details about the event remain under wraps, but the fight is reportedly scheduled for March 9.
Joshua has won his last three boxing matches, recapturing his momentum after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk that cost him his titles. The 34-year-old champion was initially set to face former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in early 2024, but the fight was called off once Wilder suffered a unanimous decision loss to Joseph Parker in December.
Ngannou, on the other hand, is showing that he isn’t one-and-done in boxing. The MMA legend made his boxing debut in October, facing current WBC champion Tyson Fury and delivering an inspired performance. While Fury ended up winning, it was a split decision, and Ngannou managed to send Fury to the ground at one point during the fight.
Prior to the fight between Joshua and Ngannou, Riyadh will also host the boxing match between Usyk and Fury, which will square off for the undisputed heavyweight title in February.
