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Francis Ngannou to Face Anthony Joshua in Boxing Match
On the 8th of March 2024, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is set to make his return to the boxing ring to take on former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The highly anticipated 10-round bout is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, who has a record of 0-1 in boxing, previously made his boxing debut against heavyweight lineal champion Tyson Fury. Despite losing in a close split decision, Ngannou managed to drop Fury with a powerful left hook in Round 3, showcasing his boxing skills and power.
On the other hand, Joshua boasts an impressive record of 27-3 with 24 knockouts. He rose to prominence in April 2017 by defeating Wladimir Klitschko to claim the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles. Joshua later added the WBO belt to his collection by defeating Joseph Parker, only to lose all his titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. in a shocking upset in June 2019. Joshua regained his titles in a rematch against Ruiz Jr. and successfully defended them before suffering consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Initially expected to face Deontay Wilder, Joshua’s opponent changed after Wilder lost a unanimous decision to Joseph Parker in December. This opened the door for Ngannou to step in and challenge Joshua in what promises to be an exciting showdown between two heavyweight contenders.
Other Fights on the Card
Aside from the highly anticipated Ngannou-Joshua matchup, the event will also feature other exciting bouts. Zhilei Zhang will defend his WBO interim heavyweight title against Joseph Parker, while Rey Vargas is set to defend his WBC featherweight belt against Nick Ball.
Earlier in the night, Israil Madrimov emerged victorious in a thrilling contest against Magomed Kurbanov to clinch the vacant WBA “super” junior middleweight title. The night promises to deliver action-packed fights and memorable moments for boxing fans worldwide.
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