Riyadh to Host a Historic Clash: Ngannou VS Joshua
Boulevard Arena is all set to witness one of the most anticipated fights of the year as Francis Ngannou steps into the ring against Anthony Joshua in a 10-round heavyweight clash in Riyadh. The bout will take place this year on March 8, named “Knockout Chaos.” It is going to be a fight of the year that will bring together the former UFC heavyweight champion against the former two-time unified boxing champion. It is a clash of styles, skills and power.
Who is Francis Ngannou?
Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian-French mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC from 2015 to 2023. He is one of the most explosive fighters in MMA history. Twelve of his 16 wins came by knockout.
Ngannou conquered the UFC heavyweight division in 2021 with his fearsome power and speed, ending Miocic’s reign with a brutal knockout. But his glory was short-lived as he fell to Gane’s superior technique and strategy later that year. Undeterred, Ngannou switched to boxing and faced the legendary Fury in his first bout.
The undeterred Ngannou switched to boxing and faced the legendary Fury in his first bout. It was a hard-fought battle for both but Ngannou narrowly lost to Fury by a split decision. That battle took place at the Boulevard Arena, Riyadh, where he showed his bravery and spirit in that hard-fought battle and earned his place in the boxing world.
Who is Anthony Joshua?
Anthony Joshua is a British boxer who contested in heavyweight category from 2013 to 2024. Twenty-four of his 26 wins came by knockout.
Joshua rose to prominence in boxing sphere with his Olympic gold medal in 2012 and his impressive triumphs over Dillian Whyte, Charles Martin, Dominic Breazeale, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin. The pinnacle of success came in 2017 when Joshua became the unified WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion.
Joshua’s supremacy was also short-lived since he lost titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. He regained titles in a rematch later that year but then lost to Oleksandr Usyk in 2020. Joshua displayed his bravery and bounced back with three wins in 2023.
Why is Ngannou vs Joshua happening?
Ngannou vs Joshua is ensuing because both fighters are peeking for a new challenge and a big payday. Ngannou likes to test himself against the best boxers in the world, while Joshua wants to prove that he is still the king of the heavyweight division.
This fight is a part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plan to become a global sports hub. The fight will take place at the Kingdom Arena, RIyadh. This highly anticipated fight will also be broadcast worldwide for millions of fans expected to tune in and watch.
What are the stakes of Ngannou vs Joshua?
The stakes are sky-high in the impending clash of Ngannou vs Joshua. A victory for Ngannou could redefine his boxing journey that could put him into contention for a world title. Nevertheless, a loss would be a great setback casting a looming shadow over his future in boxing sport. On the other side, a triumph for Joshua would solidify his boxing legacy paving for a shot at the undisputed title. Conversely, a defeat could mark the end of his career.
How will Ngannou vs Joshua play out?
This will be an unpredictable fight between two heavyweights. Both fighters have their strengths and weaknesses. Pertinently, their styles contrast with each other. Experts believe that Ngannou has advantage in power, speed, and athleticism, while Joshua has advantage in technique, experience and endurance.
Ngannou likes to play closely and he will try to close the distance to land his powerful punches. At the same time, Joshua is good at delivering punches from a distance and will try to keep the distance to use his jab and combinations, or they may change their techniques completely and contend surprisingly.
Who will win Ngannou vs Joshua?
Not an easy prediction. It is a hard fight to predict since both fighters have a chance to win. However, based on the current odds, Joshua is the favorite one, with a -500 line which means that you have to bet $500 to win $100. Ngannou is the underdog who stands at +325 line, meaning that you can win $325 by betting $100.
These odds reflect the fact that Joshua has more experience and he has faced tougher competition and is more skilled than Ngannou. However, these odds also indicate that Ngannou is a dangerous and explosive fighter who can end the fight with one punch. Eventually, the battle outcome will depend on many factors including preparation, strategy, skills execution, adjustments and somehow luck.
