Get ready for an electrifying 10-round battle as Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou officially seal the deal on what promises to be an epic encounter. The much-anticipated bout is now set in stone, and fans can mark their calendars for this thrilling matchup.
In an exciting announcement, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh revealed that the two powerhouse fighters will go toe-to-toe as part of the Riyadh Season festivities.
How many fights did Joshua lose?
3
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Riyadh Season Delivers Knockout Punch: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou Locked In!
Anthony Joshua’s boxing journey took an unexpected turn after his provisional match against Deontay Wilder faced a sudden breakdown. The initial plan had Joshua squaring off against Wilder following his triumphant win over Otto Wallin on December 23.
The twist in the tale occurred when Wilder faced Joseph Parker and succumbed to a defeat, with the judges scoring the bout 118-111, 120-108, 120-108 in favor of the Kiwi boxer. With this outcome, the anticipated clash between Joshua and Wilder fell apart, leaving fans in suspense about the British boxer’s next move.
However, new reports are now buzzing with excitement, revealing that Joshua has a fresh opponent on the horizon. The date set for this showdown is March 8, a slot initially reserved for Joshua’s proposed face-off with Wilder. The unexpected turn of events has injected a renewed sense of anticipation into the boxing world.
Adding a touch of personal insight, Joshua took to Instagram to share a photo of himself wrapping his hands, captioning it with, “Ahh s***, here we go again.. 8/3/24.“
Wilder’s Comeback and Zhang’s Challenge: Undercard Drama
In a surprising twist reported by Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the potential return of Deontay Wilder to the ring is on the horizon, as discussions about a fight against Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang unfold for the event’s undercard.
Zhang, like Wilder, boasts an Olympic medal, earning silver in the super-heavyweight division during the 2008 Olympics on home soil. The 40-year-old showcased his prowess in 2023, securing significant victories with back-to-back stoppages against Joe Joyce, solidifying his status as a formidable title contender.
The dynamic landscape of heavyweight boxing takes another intriguing turn as Anthony Joshua expresses interest in facing Francis Ngannou. Ngannou, a former UFC star, quickly climbed the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings after his inaugural professional boxing match.
Despite being initially labeled with only a puncher’s chance in his boxing debut against Tyson Fury last October, Ngannou showcased his mettle. The Cameroonian knocked the WBC champion to the canvas in the third round, eventually losing on a split decision. Controversy ensued as some believed Ngannou had done enough to win, accusing a ‘robbery’ to protect Fury’s future bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
While opinions varied among spectators, boxing experts generally sided with Fury as the rightful winner, acknowledging his narrow victory over Ngannou. Nevertheless, Ngannou left the bout with immense credit, establishing himself as a credible contender in the competitive heavyweight division.
In parallel, Anthony Joshua continued his quest for heavyweight supremacy, delivering a masterful performance against Otto Wallin on the Day of Reckoning. Joshua’s boxing prowess was on full display, compelling Wallin’s corner to intervene and call off the fight after just five rounds.
