- Anthony Joshua faces Francis Ngannou in a heavyweight boxing match up in Saudi Arabia.
- The bout at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena begins at 2am local time on Saturday (23:00 GMT on Friday).
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‘I believe I can knock him out’
Anthony Joshua says he’s relishing the contest in the latest code crossover between boxing and Mixed Martial Arts.
Francis Ngannou was scoffed at when he opted to make his boxing debut against world champion Tyson Fury in the so-called “Battle of the Baddest” in October last year.
The doubters were silenced, however, when Ngannou sent Fury to the canvas in the third round before losing only on a controversial split decision.
Joshua is not intimidated, though, by the prospect of facing the former MMA champion.
“This Friday, it’s going to go down, so I can’t wait for the opportunity to show my skills and combat this person who thinks he can knock me out,” Joshua said of Ngannou.
“I believe I can knock him out. Definitely, I would love to knock him out and make a statement.
“He has to be ready for the shots which are coming his way because I’m a man who will be standing in front of him, bringing him a lot of hell.”
Just under an hour to go
The wait is over and the bout roughly an hour away.
The pair are due in the ring at 2am local time (11pm GMT) and it appears that proceeds are running close to on time.
The fight should begin in just under an hour by the look of things.
The months of preparation, training and talk comes down to one ring in Riyadh and we’ll bring you all the action so stay seated.
Ngannou’s road to MMA glory from Cameroonian struggles
Francis Ngannou has crammed a lot into his 37 years.
The child of a single mother, he had to walk six miles to school and from the age of 10, he shovelled sand from open quarries, his meagre income helping to buy food and books.
“It was work meant for adults, but we didn’t have any options,” said Ngannou of his back-breaking labours which paid less than $2 a day.
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“I didn’t like my life, I felt like I missed my childhood.”
In 2012, at the age of 26 and fired by dreams of becoming a professional boxer, Ngannou, now boasting a towering physique carved from his brutal work in the sand pits, made a break for Europe and a better life.
Crammed with others into the back of a pick-up truck, he crossed the unforgiving Sahara, travelled through Nigeria, Niger and Algeria before reaching Morocco.
Then, after half a dozen failed attempts, he finally made it over the Mediterranean to Spain where he was promptly jailed for two months for making an illegal crossing.
He took a train to Paris and lived in a car park before local boxing coach Didier Carmont found him a place to live and a gym in which to train.
Despite an early fascination with Mike Tyson, Ngannou graduated towards Mixed Martial Arts and in 2021, became the UFC world heavyweight champion.
No pain no gain
Anthony Joshua returned to training on January 6, in preparation for this fight.
That was barely two weeks after his December 24 victory against Otto Wallin.
The undercard is under way
WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas and Britain’s Nick Ball have just got under way in their bout.
We’ll keep you posted on their progress.
Ngannou won’t let go of a Fury rematch
Francis Ngannou’s desire to face Tyson Fury in a rematch is quite clear.
The war of words appears as though it will only intensify until the pair meet again in the ring:
Last up for Ngannou
The first professional boxing bout for Francis Ngannou pitted him against Tyson Fury.
It ended in defeat for the Cameroonian on a split decision, although he drew many plaudits for his display.
The former UFC champion was clearly irked by the defeat, but also a key moment in which Ngannou says he was clearly elbowed by Fury.
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“I was a lion fighting a pack of hyenas – Tyson Fury, the referee for allowing an illegal elbow, and the judges for their score cards,” Ngannou posted on social media platform, X, after the fight.
“I watched the elbow video tens of times and I don’t understand why the referee didn’t take a point from him.”
Ngannou crosses combat codes
Former UFC star Francis Ngannou’s switch to boxing last year had been mooted for months following speculation of a crossover fight with Tyson Fury.
The 36-year-old Cameroonian was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract talks with the leading promotion collapsed once Ngannou said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were rejected.
UFC President Dana White stripped Ngannou of the belt in January 2023.
In July, it was confirmed Ngannou would indeed meet with Fury with the date later fixed for October 28.
Read more: Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou signs with PFL
