Anthony Joshua, the former world heavyweight champion who lost his titles to Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the fall of 2021, is back in the ring and looking to extend his undefeated streak to four after losing a rematch with Usyk following 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 Fighters League. Ngannou made his professional boxing debut last October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, losing the so-called 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 will take on Joshua again over 10 rounds at the top of a bill called 'Knockout Chaos'. Joshua is confident he can dominate the non-title fight in the same way he finished Otto Wallin in five rounds last December, telling Sky Sports: "I believe I can knock him out. Certainly. I'd like to knock him out and make a statement. Physically I feel strong, I feel good. Strong enough to get the job done and mentally I'm in a place where I'm ready for war. I'm looking forward to the challenge."
When is Joshua against Ngannou?
The fight is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 2024. The undercard starts at 4:00 PM GMT with Joshua v Ngannou around 11:00 PM.
Why is the fight being held on Friday?
The fight will take place on a Friday, instead of the usual Saturday evening, 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 interrupt the start of Ramadan on March 9. Sunday.
Where will the fight be held?
The fight will be contested in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, which is pushing to become the new premium destination for sporting events in the world. Joshua recently fought there when he defeated Wallin.
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How can I watch it in the UK?
The fight will be shown exclusively in Britain 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 the film on DAZN for a PPV rate of £19.99.
Telegraph Sport will run a live blog with up-to-the-minute contributions from Saudi Arabia's Gareth A Davies.
Who's on the undercard lineup?
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Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker for WBO interim heavyweight title
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Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball for 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 Almaayouf vs. Christian Lopes Flores
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Roman Fury vs. Martin Svarc
What are the latest odds?
Want to bet on the fight? Check this one out first best gambling sites before the big clashWhy Joshua vs. Ngannou is not a gimmick
Anthony Joshua branded Francis Ngannou "a gimmick" from the heavyweight division when the former UFC star fought world champion Fury in October.
Now the British heavyweight faces the challenge of facing Ngannou and proclaiming he would "bring his soul" into the ring during their rumble in Riyadh.
There's more than a little danger for Joshua when the two huge punchers collide in an event titled 'Knockout Chaos'.
The push into the Middle East continues, with more ties and deeper investments. There is no "gimmick" in the growth of the boxers' presence in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Minister Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Authority for Entertainment and Riyadh Season, has expressed his intention and signed Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang to the card.
Rival British promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn will also battle it out on a card later this year, pitting five fighters from each of their stables against each other. Warren and Hearn shook hands on stage as the Saudi minister announced the deal - and there will be more to come, not least Tyson Fury's undisputed heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh. Fury is already in Saudi Arabia for an eight-week camp and Ngannou leaves for the Kingdom on Tuesday.
Promoter George Warren, Frank Warren's son who works closely with Al-Sheikh, said Telegraph Sports: "I believe they are here for the long haul in the sport. This is just going to get bigger and bigger, and the investment in boxing is there for the long term."
His father, Frank, has said that boxing is "revolutionizing." Boxing's penchant for politics and procrastination is turned on its head with these matchups, which bring together the greatest fighters in their prime.
The next two months bring two of the biggest heavyweight events of the year: Fury has his work cut out for him against Usyk with two undefeated fighters sharing an era-defining and legacy-creating moment 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-conquering cage fighter in Las Vegas, is a Hollywood script in itself. From there, there's a possibility this could lead to the biggest, richest British fight of all time: Fury versus Joshua. It can happen. It is coming closer.
Joshua, fresh from a brilliant performance against Otto Wallin in December and rejuvenated again under young trainer Ben Davison, is currently flying high. This was reflected in his businesslike attitude in Ngannou's face, adorned with a golden cape to match the Brit's training clothes.
Joshua currently exudes confidence; physically and mentally. "You have to take a man's soul, you have to take his spirit. And I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge," said Joshua, adding that the match will be an "explosive" encounter.
It certainly will be. But as we saw with Ngannou when he defeated Fury in the third round of their fight in October, he is a fighter capable of carpe diem moments. Sitting backstage with Ngannou just before the press conference, the 6-foot-4, 20-stone fighter rubbed his hands.
"I won a long time ago, with what happened to me in life," Ngannou smiled. 'Did I upset the heavyweight division against Tyson Fury...? Watch me truly shock the world against Anthony Joshua. Shock the world. Bring change."
Who can stand in front of Ngannou and doubt him and the extraordinary storyline that follows his life? Just like boxing itself at the moment. Change - and a new dawn.
