- Respectful tone at Joshua vs Ngannou press conference
- Ngannou clash with Fury steals the show
- Impressive undercard for Riyadh
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Ngannou and Fury Clash
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has stirred the combat sports world once again as he gears up for a highly anticipated clash with British boxing star Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia this Friday. However, it was his verbal sparring with former opponent Tyson Fury that stole the spotlight at Wednesday’s press conference.
Ngannou, who left the UFC as its reigning heavyweight champion last year, shifted his attention to Fury during the press conference, emphasising that he’s “just getting started” in the boxing realm. The French-Cameroonian fighter, still fresh from his contentious split-decision loss to Fury in October, expressed his desire for a rematch, asserting, “I had one win over [Fury] and I want one more.”
In a heated exchange, Fury challenged Ngannou to face him in the UFC’s trademark octagon, to which Ngannou countered that Fury’s only chance lies in a boxing ring, under boxing rules.
Reflecting on his journey into boxing, Ngannou remained confident, despite the impending showdown with Joshua, stating, “I’m just getting started. I don’t think that [beating Joshua] will make any statement of my career because the road is still long.” The prospect of potentially fighting for a world title in only his third boxing bout looms large, should he emerge victorious against Joshua.
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Joshua relaxed and focussed
Meanwhile, Joshua, who appeared relaxed during the grand arrivals, took a more reserved approach as the fight draws near. When asked about Ngannou’s prediction of seeking a knockout, Joshua succinctly responded, “Let’s go. The best man will always win. It’s not rocket science.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn weighed in on Joshua’s prospects, predicting that the British boxer will become the undisputed champion. He highlighted the potential for the winner of Friday’s bout to face either Oleksandr Usyk or Fury, likely in 2025. Fury and Usyk will face-off in May.
Quality undercard in Riyadh
In addition to the Joshua-Ngannou showdown, the event will feature other compelling matchups, including Joseph Parker’s challenge against Zhilei Zhang for the WBO interim heavyweight title and Rey Vargas defending his WBC featherweight title against Nick Ball.
The fight card promises an array of exciting bouts across multiple weight divisions, setting the stage for an electrifying night of boxing in Riyadh.
| Riyadh Card |
| Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou (heavyweight) |
| Zhilei Zhang (C) vs Joseph Parker (WBO interim heavyweight title) |
| Rey Vargas (C) vs Nick Ball (WBC featherweight title) |
| Israel Madrimov vs Magomed Kurbanov (vacant WBA super-welterweight title) |
| Gavin Gwynne vs Mark Chamberlain (lightweight) |
| Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena (heavyweight) |
| Mark Chamberlain vs Gavin Gwynne (lightweight) |
| Jack McGann vs Louis Greene (super-welterweight) |
| Roman Fury vs Martin Svarc (cruiserweight) |
When is Joshua vs Ngannou?
Joshua vs Ngannou is set to take place on Friday 8 March in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event is expected to begin at 5pm GMT (10am PT, 12pm CT, 1pm ET), with ring walks for Joshua vs Ngannou likely to start at 10.30pm GMT (3.30pm PT, 5.30pm CT, 6.30pm ET).
How can I watch Joshua vs Ngannou?
The event will stream live on DAZN in the UK, US and worldwide, with Sky Sports also broadcasting the fight in the UK.
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