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Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou

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Vargas retains WBC featherweight title by split draw

Rey Vargas has just retained the WBC’s version of the featherweight title after a controversial split draw with Liverpool’s Nick Ball, the undefeated prospect who roared back from a quiet start to score a pair of knockdowns in the later rounds.

One judge scored it 114-112 for Vargas, another 116-110 for Ball while the third had it 113-113. The announcement is met by a chorus of boos from the Kingdom Arena crowd that only rises in volume when Vargas is interviewed in the ring during the aftermath.

Next up: a delicious heavyweight scrap between WBO interim champion Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker, who held the WBO’s primary belt from 2016 through 2018. The main event between Joshua and Ngannou will follow.

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Deontay Wilder 'would love' to face  British star if he defeats Ngannou | Boxing News | Sky Sports

Preamble

Hello and welcome to Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena for tonight’s crossover match between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou. It’s been billed as the Knockout Chaos: a scheduled 10-round bout under boxing rules between the former two-time unified heavyweight champion amnd a former UFC champion with exactly one professional boxing match under his belt.

Joshua (27-3, 24 KO), at 34 years old, has won three straight bouts after back-to-back defeats ot Oleksandr Usyk and is still angling for another run at a heavyweight belt. But the 2012 Olympic gold medalist has put those plans on hold for a highly lucrative date with the 37-year-old Ngannou, who defied all expectations five months ago with a disputed split-decision loss to lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, scoring the only knockdown of the evening along the way. Fury may have won the fight, but Ngannou clearly won the event.

talkSPORT on X: "Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou ring walks confirmed  including undercard fights https://t.co/7HkFDtskcR" / X

That automatically makes Ngannou (0-1, 0 KO) an awfully intriguing proposition entering tonight’s sophomore outing. But was Ngannou really that good against Fury, or was Fury that poor in overlooking the Cameroonian neophyte? We’ll have answers soon enough.

We’re around an hour from the main event ringwalks. Plenty to come between now and then.

Anthony Joshua said “no conversations were had between me and Tyson Fury” after the pair met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday before the former’s heavyweight fight with Francis Ngannou on Friday.

The Britons have rarely crossed paths despite their long-running rivalry.

Joshua, Fury and Ngannou took a picture together, alongside footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.

“I’m quite territorial,” Joshua told BBC Sport.

“When I’m in a room, I’ll call them my enemies or my competitors. I don’t really smile. I can’t fake it.

READ MORE ;Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Timing, pricing, booking details for heavyweight showdown on Friday March 8

“There’s a lot of fake people on these fight weeks. I can’t really fake it with it with people.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn described Fury as being “on golden form”, saying ‘The Gypsy King’ did not directly speak to Joshua but did take aim at Ngannou for suggesting he won their fight in October.

Joshua – who was not in the room when Fury and Ngannou clashed – added: “I heard something happened between Ngannou but Ngannou would get him a headlock and chop him up.

Joshua vs Ngannou: When do the heavyweights enter the ring for Friday's  showdown in Saudi Arabia | Boxing News | Sky Sports

“All this boxing stuff, on the streets MMA rules 100%.

Alalshikh, as he has done for previous fight nights in Saudi, hosted all the boxers, including Joseph Parker and Justis Huni who are on the undercard, as well as promoters Hearn and Frank Warren.

With the riches of the Saudi kingdom behind him, Alalshikh has been credited with changing the landscape of boxing.

He has resolved conflicts and rivalries between fighters and promoters, including Hearn and Warren, and there is increased hope Fury and Joshua could finally happen.

RELATED NEWS ;WHY ; Anthony Joshua show reaches another defining act as he faces Francis Ngannou in mission to become three-time world champion

WBC champion Fury arrived in Riyadh earlier on Tuesday and is expected to be ringside on Friday as his brother, 27-year-old Roman Fury, is fighting on the undercard.

“I think years ago that might have affected AJ, but not anymore. Now he’s just laser focused,” Hearn said.

“Be interesting to see what Tyson Fury does at ringside.”

Anthony Joshua to face Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia - Vanguard News

As Saudi Arabia faces repeated accusations of using elite level sport to deflect conversation away from its poor human rights record, their investment in boxing does not appear to be slowing down.

While the interest of the locals is questionable, with a lack of fans attending the fight week festivities so far, the money being pumped into the build-up is staggering.

The production levels for the promotional videos – lending to the arcade fight computer game theme – would put many Hollywood trailers to shame.

JUST IN ;Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: AJ says former UFC champion is not a gimmick opponent and believes he beat Tyson Fury

The purses have not been revealed but Forbes sensationally report, external Joshua could earn $50m with Ngannou taking home $10m.