Anthony Joshua will face Francis Ngannou to cap off Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia, and Deontay Wilder is reportedly in talks to, once again, star on the same card.
With different results, the date pencilled in for this event – reportedly Friday March 8 – was the stage for Joshua-Wilder, but a loss to Joseph Parker on the Day of Reckoning card on December 23 saw the American’s stock plummet and plans change.
It was reported and confirmed shortly after that Joshua and Ngannou have reached a deal for a ten-round bill-topping affair.
To keep his hopes of a money-spinning clash with ‘AJ’ and any future title shots alive, Wilder must score a statement win. The Saudis are keen to have him feature on this March card, and Chris Mannix reports that one Zhilei Zhang could be in the other corner.
Few details on the planned #JoshuaNgannou card in Saudi, on what is expected to be another massive show in March:
▪️ Told the working date is currently March 8th, a Friday
▪️ Zhilei Zhang, the Chinese heavyweight who scored back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Joyce last year, is…— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 5, 2024
Zhang had one of the best years in the heavyweight division in 2023, twice stopping the previously unstoppable Joe Joyce on away soil to win and retain the WBO’s Interim title and mandatory position for Oleksandr Usyk.
An injury kept him off the Day of Reckoning card, but he has since been calling out all contenders for his return bout. The 40-year-old southpaw from China represents a tough challenge but a commendable prize for any of the top dogs.
More details are expected at the London press conference for the event, set for January 15. It will be promoted by Queensberry and Matchroom – the second instalment of the Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn partnership – and is expected to feature another stacked card of heavyweights and world title action.
Daniel Dubois may also feature following his win over Jarrell Miller, as well as Parker, Filip Hrgovic – previously the frontrunner to face Joshua – and Frank Sanchez.