British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua is set to contend versus Cameroonian and French MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in a crossover boxing bout on March 8th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The previous heavyweight champ ended 2023 in design as he stopped Otto Wallin after 5 rounds at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ occasion in Riyadh, constructing on his wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius previously in the year.
Deontay Wilder was tipped as a possible challenger for Joshua in early 2024, however the American lost his last battle to Joseph Parker on the undercard of the ‘Day of Reckoning’, so that possible bout is off the table for the time being.
Ngannou will be the very first non-boxer that Joshua has actually ever met in an expert boxing bout. Ngannou took part in his very first expert boxing match last October, as he took on in a 10-round contest versus WBC heavyweight champ, Tyson Fury, in Riyadh.
Ngannou was offered little to no possibility of beating Fury however he seemed silencing his skeptics early on because battle as he floored the Brit with a relentless left hook in the 3rd round.
The battle went the range and regardless of Ngannou’s outstanding efficiency, Fury triumphed through a split choice, with numerous concurring that Ngannou was the should have winner rather.
Ngannou’s efficiency versus Fury made him a lot of appreciation and credit, with the approving body, WBC, ranking him as the 10th finest heavyweight fighter on the planet. Ngannou will be no piece of cake for Joshua, and the Brit will require to prepare for the MMA star with the very same level of severity as he has actually done for his other challengers if he desires to prevent a loss on March 8th.
An interview is set to occur on January 15th in London to formally reveal the 10-round battle and more information relating to the bout will be exposed then.
Ngannou’s endeavor into expert boxing has actually been an effective one from a monetary viewpoint, as the MMA fighter made near ₤ 8 million from his battle with Fury. In retrospection, Ngannou’s strong choice to deny a ₤ 6 million three-fight offer from the UFC in 2015 appears to have actually been the best one.
According to Forbes, Ngannou’s efficiency versus Fury has actually increased his direct exposure and he ought to get a significant pay increase in his next contest.
The American organization publication approximates that Ngannou might make more than ₤ 15 million for his approaching battle with Joshua, with that not even taking into consideration possible sponsorships and pay-per-view numbers.
There has actually not been as much explanation in reports for Joshua’s handbag for the battle, however he is most likely to make significantly more than Ngannou. Fury apparently made near to ₤ 40 million when he combated Ngannou which is near the figure Joshua is thought to have actually asked for and will get to deal with the MMA fighter.
Joshua is among boxing’s most significant earners as he has actually allegedly made around ₤ 200 million from his expert profession in the ring. From headlining pay-per-view bouts to offering out arenas in Britain and now combating abroad in boxing’s most rewarding market at present, Saudi Arabia, Joshua has actually unquestionably been a sporting and business success.
Offering Joshua comes through untouched versus Ngannou and prevents a loss, he will turn his attention to returning into contention for a world title chance at some point in 2024. The Brit might get a shot at the WBA heavyweight title by dealing with Congo’s Martin Bakole in a last remover, with the winner consequently going on to eliminate for the title.
Bakole and Joshua are ranked as the top and second competitors respectively in the current WBA heavyweight rankings.
The heavyweight department is set to control boxing in the very first quarter of 2024, as Fury will handle WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champ, Oleksandr Usykon February 17th in Riyadh. The contest will be for the right to be called the very first undeniable heavyweight champ given that Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Somewhere else, MMA star Conor McGregor is eager to go back to action and called out boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for a future boxing bout when he participated in the ‘Day of Reckoning’ occasion last month. McGregor last combated at UFC 264 in 2021, where he lost to Dustin Poirier, whilst Pacquiao retired from expert boxing that exact same year.