Anthony Joshua will fight Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia tonight, in a world heavyweight bout that promises to bring plenty of drama and action.
The former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Joshua looks to extend his unbeaten streak to four fights in Riyadh, as he takes on the French-Cameroonian outsider as part of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the world of boxing and sport.
Joshua will be hoping to breeze through this fight and be given the opportunity to contest the world title.
But he will not want to underestimate Ngannou, who went round to round with Tyson Fury last year, before narrowly losing in a controversial split decision.
When is Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou?
The fight is set to take place in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday 8 March and will be broadcast live that evening.
The two are scheduled to enter the ring at around 11pm UK time.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the fight, Joshua said he would “love to make a statement.”
“I would love to knock him out… Physically I feel strong, feeling good. Strong enough to get the job done and mentally I’m in a place where I’m ready for war. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
While Ngannou has remained humble, stating that he could struggle towards the end of the fight:
“I will struggle to do 10 rounds. I struggle to do 10 rounds, and if anyone doesn’t struggle to 10 rounds, you’re something else, you aren’t human.
“You know, I’m human, everybody gets tired after 10 rounds. That’s right, I struggled, and I have no problem with it because it’s a learning process.
“I’m here to learn. I struggled in my first fight with Tyson Fury and in fact, in that fight, I was questioning myself like, ‘What will happen when I get in the third round? How will I feel?’
“I’ve never been in a professional boxing match for four rounds, six rounds, or eight rounds – and that was 10 rounds!
“So, yes, I did struggle. But I think [Fury] struggled as well, maybe more.”
How to watch Joshua vs Ngannou
The fight will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky Sports Box Office.
If you have a subscription to DAZN, the fight will be available to purchase at a cost of £18.99, while new customers can pay £19.99 to buy the event.
Coverage from Saudi Arabia will start at 4pm, and DAZN will be broadcasting to more than 200 territories across the globe.
Shay Segev, DAZN CEO, said: “DAZN is the undisputed home of boxing, and it is an honour to have been chosen by Riyadh Season again as their global broadcast and distribution partner for “Knockout Chaos”.
“We share Riyadh Season’s ambitions and look forward to repaying their trust by producing and broadcasting another blockbuster event Friday 8 March.”
The match will also be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491) and Sky Sports Box Office HD (Sky channel 492). For viewers with a Sky Sports subscription, they will have to pay £19.95.
Jonathan Licht, Sky Sports managing director, said: “As the unrivalled home for sports fans in the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports is thrilled to offer our customers the chance to watch this eagerly awaited clash.“
Who is fighting on the undercard?
Before Joshua takes to the ring, China’s Zhilei Zhang will defend his WBO interim heavyweight title against former World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight champion Joseph Parker of New Zealand.
Englishman Mark Chamberlain is also challenging the Gavin Gwynne, who has held the European lightweight title since 2023.
Other fights taking in the ring include: Australian heavyweight Justis Huni, cruiserweight prospect Roman Fury, British super-welterweight Jack McGann and Saudi super-lightweight Ziyad Almaayouf.
Who is Francis Ngannou?
The rise of Ngannou is a rags to riches story, growing up in poverty-stricken Cameroon, who emigrated to Europe to pursue his dream to become a champion fighter.
He lived homeless on the streets of Paris in his 20s, before a friend let him train in a local gym and he was introduced to MMA.
Ngannou took to mixed martial arts, gaining a reputation as a brawler with a powerful punch that earned him his first UFC fight at the age of 29.
He rose to become the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion, but left the competition last year following a dispute about the terms of his contract.
His first fight was against the undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury where he was able to knock the champion to the floor, before Fury went on to win the bout on a controversial split decision.
Having ended seven of his fourteen UFC fights by knockout before the two-minute mark in the first round, Joshua will have to watch out for Ngannou’s punching power in the clash in Riyadh tonight.