Britain’s Anthony Joshua celebrates after defeating Sweden’s Otto Wallin throughout their heavyweight boxing match on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh on December 23, 2023. (Picture by AFP) / The misguided point out[s] showing within the metadata of this photograph by AHMED YOSRI has been modified in AFP techniques within the following method: [-/STR] as a substitute of [Ahmed YOSRI]. Please instantly take away the misguided point out[s] from all of your on-line companies and delete it (them) out of your servers. When you’ve got been licensed by AFP to distribute it (them) to 3rd events, please be certain that the identical actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly adjust to these directions will entail legal responsibility in your half for any continued or put up notification utilization. Due to this fact we thanks very a lot for all of your consideration and immediate motion. We’re sorry for the inconvenience this notification might trigger and stay at your disposal for any additional info chances are you’ll require.
LONDON — Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s subsequent combat shall be in opposition to MMA star Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, promotors have introduced.
Ngannou has solely boxed as soon as professionally, when he knocked down Tyson Fury earlier than losing in a split-decision to the reigning WBC heavyweight champion in late October.
A date for the Riyadh combat wasn’t introduced however it appears more likely to happen in March.
Britain’s Tyson Fury (L) falls on the bottom as he fights in opposition to Cameroonian-French Francis Ngannou throughout their heavyweight boxing match in Riyadh early on October 29, 2023. (Picture by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are scheduled to combat in Riyadh on Feb. 17 to unify all the main heavyweight boxing titles. Usyk holds the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
The 34-year-old Joshua appeared sharp earlier than Christmas when he stopped Otto Wallin with a fifth-round technical knockout. On the identical card, Deontay Wilder misplaced to Joseph Parker, which scuppered discuss of a March bout between Wilder and Joshua.
Eddie Hearn, who’s Joshua’s promoter, introduced Friday evening that the Ngannou combat is a “ carried out deal ” and {that a} press convention shall be held in London on Jan. 15.
The 37-year-old Ngannou of Cameroon is a former UFC champion.