Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Date, UK start time, undercard and how to follow as AJ faces former UFC champion in Saudi Arabia
15/01/2024 14:54
Anthony Joshua will bid to follow in Tyson Fury’s footsteps when he faces former UFC star Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia this spring.
AJ is in the process of rebuilding his career after losing his world titles and comes into 2024 off the back of a three-fight win streak.
The Brit continued his recovery from suffering successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk by knocking out Otto Wallin in December.
Joshua had been set to face Deontay Wilder next, but the Bronze Bomber’s defeat to Joseph Parker on the same night has seen him pivot to another one of Fury’s conquests instead.
With Fury and Usyk involved in an undisputed showdown in 2024, AJ is now hoping to keep himself in contention to fight the victor.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou will be appearing in only his second-ever professional boxing bout.
The Predator stunned the world on his debut when he floored Fury last October, although the WBC heavyweight world champion ultimately won via split decision.
Joshua vs Ngannou: Date and start time
This 12-round heavyweight clash is slated to go ahead on Friday, March 8.
It is taking place on a Friday due to the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit also being held that weekend.
The boxing action is once again scheduled to take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the location for Joshua’s win over Wallin, and Ngannou’s defeat to Fury.
Timings for this event are yet to be confirmed but the undercard action is expected to start around 7pm UK time.
The ring-walks for the main event can then be expected from 11pm.
talkSPORT will be bang across fight week with live updates on fight night while talkSPORT.com will be running a live blog as well.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
The action will also be broadcast on DAZN PPV with details around the price and coverage start time to follow in due course.
Joshua vs Ngannou: Undercard
More to follow
- MAIN EVENT: Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou
Joshua vs Ngannou: What has been said?
talkSPORT host Adam Catterall believes a win for AJ against Ngannou can put him in line for an undisputed showdown against either Fury or Usyk at the end of 2024.
He said: “If the Anthony Joshua that turned up against Otto Wallin on December 23 turns up on March 8 against Francis Ngannou, he will beat him.
“Therefore, that creates momentum pushing us forward towards a super-fight that we’ve all been dreaming about at the end of the year.
“Because what will happen is that AJ will beat Ngannou on March 9, he will then propel himself into a summer showdown with Filip Hrgovic for a vacant IBF world title, he will win that.
“And then at the end of the year, the winner of the Fury vs Usyk situation will hold three of the championship belts – AJ will have the other one.
“Do you want to do another undisputed fight at the end of the year?
“If it’s Tyson Fury – the man that he wants – that is holding the belts, him vs Anthony Joshua all of a sudden becomes the biggest fight of a generation.
“That is how this is going to play out, that is how I think this now navigates itself.”
