Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou will take on Anthony Joshua later this year in a 10-round boxing match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, The MMA Hour’s Ariel Helwani confirmed via Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s chairman of general authority for entertainment.
The event is scheduled for March 9, sources told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, and the details will be confirmed at a press conference later in January.
Ngannou made his boxing debut in October 2023 against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. The former UFC fighter held his own against Fury, even sending his opponent to the ground with a left hook in the third round. However, that wasn’t enough, as Ngannou lost via split decision (94-95, 96-93, 95-94) in a 10-round affair.
Ngannou’s performance in his debut boxing match earned him a spot in the World Boxing Council’s top-10 heavyweight rankings.