Anthony Joshua to face Francis Ngannou in Saudi showdown

Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua, is gearing up for a showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.This was announced by Matchroom and Queensberry on Friday night in a post on their X account, with further details to be confirmed next week.

The statement read, “Confirmed: #anthonyjoshua vs #francis_ngannou is signed to take place during #RiyadhSeason

#Fight date and Kick-off press conference details to be released next week! #JoshuaNgannou.”

A press conference is set for January 15 in London.

While initially slated for a bout with Deontay Wilder on March 9, Joshua’s focus has shifted to Ngannou, who rose in the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings after his debut boxing match.

The upcoming clash follows Joshua’s dominant win over Otto Wallin on December 23, as Saudi Arabia continues to host major heavyweight contests.