The much-anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou has been confirmed. Set to occur within Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia, this 10-round bout promises an intense showdown between these heavyweight titans.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has officially announced the face-off as part of the Riyadh Season. While the exact date remains undisclosed, an upcoming press conference in London on January 15 will unveil this detail.
Joshua was initially slated to compete against Deontay Wilder following his victory over Otto Wallin on December 23. However, there was a shift in plans when Wilder faced defeat against Joseph Parker.
The match between Joshua and Wilder was scheduled to take place on March 9. Both boxers signed contracts in advance of their respective December matches.
Thus, a lot of people think that AJ vs. Ngannou will take the place of the planned matchup between Wilder and the British heavyweight.
Joshua expressed his eagerness to compete against Ngannou, particularly after the latter’s remarkable entry into the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings. This was after Ngannou competed in his first professional boxing match.
Despite initial skepticism about his boxing debut, Ngannou proved himself against the WBC champion Tyson Fury. In their 10-round face-off, he managed to drop Fury in the third round. But he went on to lose the match via a split decision.
Ngannou nonetheless earned a great deal of recognition for his performance and cemented his place as a legitimate heavyweight contender.
On the other hand, Joshua defeated Otto Wallin on the Day of Reckoning in order to resume his ascent to the top of the heavyweight class.
The forthcoming clash between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou promises to be a monumental event in the world of boxing, drawing global attention and anticipation. As fans await further details, the excitement and buzz surrounding this anticipated matchup continue to grow.