Anthony Joshua will face ex-MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in a heavyweight struggle in Saudi Arabia on March 8.
Anthony Joshua says he’s hoping a struggle towards ex-mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou will result in a shot at changing into the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Former heavyweight world champion Joshua will face Ngannou in simply his second skilled bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 8.
Three weeks earlier than that struggle, Tyson Fury takes Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh for the fitting to turn into the primary undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.
Joshua received all three of his fights in 2023 as he bids to return to the highest of the heavyweight division, together with his most spectacular efficiency coming in a fifth-round stoppage of Otto Wallin final month.
Cameroon-born Ngannou solely made his skilled boxing debut in October, when he knocked down WBC champion Fury earlier than shedding an in depth choice.
“Each struggle results in someplace, so this struggle is my the whole lot and we’ll see the place it leads me,” mentioned Joshua because the fighters confronted off at a press convention in London.
“I’ve bought to take his thoughts and his spirit, it will likely be explosive. We will each commerce and it will likely be a very good struggle.”
Ngannou questions Joshua’s chin
Ngannou nearly delivered an upset when he dropped Fury to the canvas with a left hook in that struggle.
“I heard that he doesn’t have a chin,” Ngannou mentioned of Britain’s two-time world champion Joshua.
“I don’t know if it’s true or not. We’re going to seek out out. I hope I’ve the chance to check that out, that’s my want.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t disguise from his ambitions for the previous Olympic champion.
“In case you can think about the winner of this struggle towards the winner of Fury v Usyk, it’s been a protracted dream of Anthony and his crew to be undisputed.”
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou has one other shot at one of many largest names within the sport after practically ending Fury’s unbeaten file.
“I’m going to return as an underdog to win the struggle. I’ll get this performed, I’m only a newbie,” mentioned Ngannou.
“I’ll come out higher and that’s how I see issues. I ready for a tough struggle. The Fury struggle is previously and I’ll take this extra severe than earlier than as a result of there’s extra on the road, the undisputed.
“I’ll do one thing no person has performed earlier than and I’ve the instruments to try this. It is not going to be a straightforward struggle, however a potential one (to win).”
Each Joshua’s victory over Wallin and Ngannou’s shock displaying towards Fury additionally came about within the Saudi capital.
