Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou top yet another high-profile card during Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia, and now the undercard has been confirmed.
Although some fans have been critical of the main-event, there will be no complaints with the co-main, as Zhilei Zhang (26-1-1) puts his position as WBO Mandatory Challenger on the line against Joseph Parker (34-3), who is coming off of a career-best win over Deontay Wilder last month, with the winner well poised for a shot at a world title in the near-future.
Meanwhile, the WBC Featherweight World Title will be up for grabs as Mexico’s Rey Vargas (36-1) aims to make a first defence of the belt that he won in July 2022, after an unsuccessful super-featherweight title challenge against O’Shaquie Foster last year where he lost his unbeaten record. Vargas will be tasked with hard-hitting Brit, Nick Ball (19-0), who has stopped five of his last six opponents.
Wales’ newly-crowned EBU European Lightweight Champion, Gavin Gwynne (17-2-1) will take on IBF European Lightweight Champion, Mark Chamberlain (14-0) in an intriguing Home Nations clash, with the winner likely to break into the top fifteen rankings in the division.
Australia’s Justis Huni (8-0) and Roman Fury (3-0), brother of Tyson, will also appear on the card with opponents yet to be named. That’s the same with Liverpool’s super-welterweight, Jack McGann (9-0-1) fights in Riyadh for a second consecutive occasion, after he scored an impressive second-round knockout on the Fury-Ngannou card.
Finally, Saudi Arabia will have their own talent on display, as Buddy McGirt trained, Ziyad Almaayouf (4-0) looks to impress his countrymen, extending his run of appearing on high-profile cards after appearing on Usyk-Joshua II, Paul-Fury, Joshua-Franklin and Usyk-Dubois thus far.
The March 8 event will culminate with Joshua-Ngannou as Riyadh Season draws to a close.