It’s now official! After shaking Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou will challenge another big name in boxing in the heavyweight category in early March in the person of the British Anthony Joshua. The fight, made official during the joint press conference of the two pugilists on Monday in London, will take place over ten rounds.
Joshua, ex-WBA, IBF and WBO champion, is coming off an impressive victory against Swede Otto Wallin who was forced to retire in the fifth round last month in Riyadh.
The Cameroonian, who made his debut in English boxing last October, created a surprise by pushing Tyson Fury, holder of the prestigious WBC belt, to his limits. Ngannou knocked him out in the third round, before losing the fight by split decision when most observers considered him the winner.
Three weeks after the clash between Fury and Usyk
Both fights took place in Riyadh, the capital of the Gulf oil monarchy, which has become the promoters’ favorite destination for lucrative fights between stars.
A few weeks before this clash, of which the Briton seems logically the favorite, attention will be focused on the heavyweight title reunification fight which will pit Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian dethroned Joshua in September 2021 at Wembley and confirmed his victory eleven months later in Jeddah.
The clash, on February 17 in Riyadh, between the Briton and the Ukrainian is eagerly awaited by boxing fans to the extent that it will deliver for the first time since 1999 an undisputed champion of the premier category.
Saudi Arabia is still under fire for its “sportwashing” policy, using sport as diplomatic leverage for several years with Formula 1, Moto GP, the LIV golf circuit and football to improve its reputation. facing criticism of its human rights record.
