Joshua posted his first stoppage win since disposing of Alexander Povetkin in September 2018. (Photograph by Andrew Couldridge – Pool/Getty Pictures)
Anthony Joshua could not have landed a conflict in opposition to Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder, however he managed to safe one other marquee opponent as an alternative.
Joshua will face Francis Ngannou in a possible 10-round bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was confirmed Friday night. Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Normal Leisure Authority made the announcement on his social media account.
Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, acknowledged an official announcement can be made on January 15 in London.
“Tonight we affirm it’s a Accomplished Deal! @anthonyjoshua v. @francis_ngannou collide in an enormous evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” acknowledged Hearn in a publish on Twitter. “-press convention Jan 15 in London with full particulars dropping quickly! #JoshuaNgannou @Turki_alalshikh @MatchroomBoxing @Queensbury #RiyadhSeason”
No official date has been introduced, however March 8 and 9 have been the speculated dates for the Joshua-Ngannou struggle to happen.
Joshua (27-3, 24 knockouts), who resides in Watford, England, final fought on December 23, additionally in Riyadh, which headlined a ‘Day of Reckoning’ card. Joshua, who’s ranked No. 2 by The Ring at heavyweight, dominated contender Otto Wallin, forcing Wallin to stay on his stool after spherical 5. Wallin possible suffered a damaged nostril in the course of the struggle.
The win over Wallin is Joshua’s third consecutive victory since shedding by split-decision to Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022.
Joshua is a former world unified titleholder, who has had coach Derrick James in his nook. For the Wallin struggle, coach Ben Davison labored Joshua’s nook.
The 34-year-old was penciled to face Deontay Wilder in a long-awaited showdown later this 12 months. Wilder fought Joseph Parker on the identical ‘Day of Reckoning’ card, shedding a one-sided choice to the previous world titleholder.
Ngannou nearly pulled off a major upset in his solely boxing struggle on October 28, shedding a split-decision to Tyson Fury. Ngannou scored a knockdown in spherical three and outboxed Fury all through the struggle.
The 37-year-old Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is initially from Batie, Cameroon and now lives and trains in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The March struggle between Joshua and Ngannou is the most recent in a sequence of latest high-profile struggle playing cards to happen in Saudi Arabia. The February 17 conflict between Fury and Usyk, the Ring Journal heavyweight champion, may even happen in Riyadh.
Ought to every come out victorious, Fury and Joshua might meet in an all-Britain conflict that might promote out soccer stadiums in the UK or in Saudi Arabia.
No phrase but on what platform the Joshua-Ngannou struggle can be streamed.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He may be reached at [email protected]
Observe @FSalazarBoxing
