The heavyweight combat between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou Friday is shaping as much as be excess of a boxing-mixed martial arts crossover.
Tyson Fury mentioned he’ll give the winner a shot at his undisputed world heavyweight title — assuming Fury nonetheless has it after combating Oleksandr Usyk Could 18.
Additionally at stake:
For Ngannou, the previous UFC champion, it’s an opportunity to show he’s a formidable boxer. He delivered a surprising efficiency in October in his professional boxing debut.
Pitted towards world champ Tyson Fury, Ngannou, 37, scored the one knockdown of the combat and landed punishing blows earlier than shedding a controversial break up determination. However he mentioned he has not but shocked the world.
“I’m nonetheless within the manufacturing facility, constructing,” Ngannou, a local of Cameroon, mentioned this week. “You realize, coaching, studying.”
For Joshua, the Brit, it’s a possibility to proceed his re-ascension. Joshua (27-3, 24 KO’s) has received three straight bouts after shedding back-to-back fights to Usyk. However a loss to Ngannou would create critical doubts about whether or not Joshua, 34, can ever reclaim the championship belts he misplaced to Usyk in 2021.
“I’m trying ahead to the event,” Joshua mentioned.
The place to stream Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou combat card
The combat card begins at 11 a.m. ET with the primary occasion going down roughly at 5:50 p.m. ET, in line with DAZN.
- Sport day: Friday, March 8
- Sport time: 11:00 a.m., ET
- TV channel: Protection out there solely on DAZN
- Dwell stream: DAZN PPV
- Value: $39.99
Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball, featherweight combat
Spherical 1: A putting distinction with the 5-foot-2 Ball and 5-10 Vargas circling on the heart of the ring. The diminutive Ball not backing down. However Vargas lands extra punches. Vargas 10, Ball 9.
Spherical 2: Ball attempting to get inside however operating proper into Vargas jabs. However Ball lastly connecting. Possibly even steals the spherical? Vargas 19, Ball 19.
Spherical 3: The rough-and-tumble Ball sends Vargas flying to the canvas with…an MMA transfer? No level deduction, however uncertain the judges are impressed. Vargas does a lot of the scoring. Vargas 29, Ball 28.
Spherical 4: Ball dashing at Vargas, decided to negate Vargas’ attain benefit, then slips via the ropes. Nearly uncontrolled. Vargas delivering that jab repeatedly. Vargas 39, Ball 37.
Spherical 5: Ball is a bulldog and appears like he might do harm inside. However Vargas nonetheless principally warding off his challenger with the jab. Vargas 49, Ball 46.
Spherical 6: Ball wrestles Vargas to the canvas. However Vargas sticking together with his sport plan – capitalize on his attain benefit. You can provide Ball credit score for scrappiness, however can’t give him the spherical. Vargas 59, Ball 55.
Notable ring stroll: Manny Pacquiao
Legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao accompanied Rey Vargas of Mexico on his ring stroll. Vargas, the WBC world featherweight champion is placing his belt on the road towards Nick Ball of England in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds.
Israil Madrimov def. Magomed Kurbanov
Madrimov received the WBA tremendous welterweight title when he stopped Kurbanov by TKO within the fifth spherical.
When the referee stopped the combat, the 25-year-old Uzbekistan boxer celebrated within the ring with a cartwheel adopted by a backflip.
“Nice feeling,’’ Madrimov mentioned whereas holding the championship belt within the ring. “…This belt coming to Uzbekistan.’’
Madrimov improved to 10-0-1. Kurbanov, a 28-year-old from Russia, suffered his first loss and fell to 25-1.
Championship belt at stake
The WBO heavyweight championship belt, which now belongs to Zhilei Zhang, can be on the road when China’s Zhang fights Joseph in a heavyweight bout scheduled for 12 rounds. Could the fighters look half as polished because the WBO heavyweight championship belt.
Acknowledging His Excellency
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the main energy dealer in Saudi boxing, obtained a particular welcome between fights. Carrying signature shades, he tapped his chest with a fist in acknowledgment of cheers.
Then the Saudi Arabian nationwide anthem was performed and the boxing resumed.
Mark Chamberlain def. Gavin Gwynne
Chamberlain stopped Gwynne by TKO within the fourth spherical of the light-weight bout.
A southpaw, Chamberlain battered Gwynne from the outset and left his opponent’s proper eye badly swollen after the primary spherical. The damage worsened and the referee waved off the combat at 2:46 of the fourth spherical.
“I wished to make an announcement out right here,’’ Chamberlain mentioned.
Chamberlain, a 24-year-old from England, improved to 16-0. Gwynne, a 33-year-old from Wales, dropped to 17-3.
Justis Huni def. Kevin Lerena
Huni survived a final-round barrage to beat Lerena by unanimous determination within the 10-round heavyweight combat.
However Lerena, from South Africa, bloodied within the sixth spherical, delivered an electrifying effort within the ultimate spherical. Twice he rocked Huni, who wobbled however stayed on his toes and pulled out the victory.
The judges scored the combat 96-94, 96-94 and 98-92.
The Australian Huni, 24, improved to 9-0 and Lerena, 31, fell to 30-3.
Lerena’s mom died earlier this week.
“Emotionally it was powerful,’’ he mentioned. “However you possibly can’t take something away from this younger man. …
“I had him harm. I ought to have completed him. However kudos to him, he stayed up like a troublesome lion, a younger lion.’’
Huni cited his coaching when requested about withstanding Lerena’s highly effective photographs within the 10th spherical.
“I’m glad my legs are robust sufficient to stay it out.
Tyson Fury assesses Joshua-Ngannou matchup
Fury, who obtained knocked down by Ngannou in October earlier than pulling out a victory by break up determination, supplied his ideas on the matchup between Joshua and Ngannou.
“I believe if Joshua makes use of his jab, strikes his toes, he wins comfortably,’’ Fury mentioned throughout an interview on the DAZN broadcast. “But when he will get concerned, he might get attacked like I did.
“I ought to’ve most likely used me jab and danced round him…However I attempted to leap in with huge energy photographs and, bang-bang. I used to be having numerous success early with the one-two, and he was taking them, to his credit score.’’
Fury mentioned he obtained grasping, resulting in Ngannou scoring a knockdown within the third spherical of his professional boxing debut.
“Along with his restricted boxing skilled, he doesn’t actually have the flexibility to,’’ Fury mentioned of Ngannou. “After he’s landed and harm somebody, he doesn’t have the flexibility to set extra photographs up on an elite stage boxer to get him out of there.
“However, hey, Anthony Joshua’s not as elusive as I’m. Even on me worst not, he’s not as elusive as I’m.”
Why is the bout going down in Saudi Arabia?
There’s little thriller as to why Joshua and Ngannou can be combating in Saudi Arabia as an alternative of Las Vegas.
Comply with the cash.
Ngannou handed on a three-fight, $8 million contract with the UFC. Then he reportedly made at the least $10 million for his professional debut towards Tyson Fury, in line with Fury, and is about for an additional hefty payday for his combat towards Joshua.
The Saudis are notably enchanted with the top-ranked heavyweights.
Fox Sports activities Australia reported Joshua and Ngannou can be paid greater than $70 million mixed.
“It is going to quickly be the combat capital of the world,’’ veteran boxing promoter Frank Warren instructed the London Instances.
What time is it in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia?
The primary occasion could also be scheduled for early night Friday within the U.S., however it is going to be the wee hours of the morning native time. Riyadh is eight hours forward of Japanese Commonplace Time (GMT+3), that means it was 7 p.m. when the preliminary fights started and can be roughly 1:50 a.m. Saturday when the primary occasion will get underway.
Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou betting strains, odds
Joshua is favored to defeat Ngannou, in line with the BetMGM odds.
- Win Outright: Joshua (-450); Ngannou (+320)
- Win by KO/TKO: Joshua (-190); Ngannou (+380)
- Win by factors or Choice: Joshua (+400); Ngannou (+2,200)
The combat card for the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou bout
Essential card
- Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou, 10 rounds, heavyweight
- Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker, 12 rounds, heavyweight – Zhang’s interim WBO heavyweight title
- Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball, 12 rounds, featherweight – Vargas’ WBC featherweight title
- Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov, 12 rounds, tremendous welterweight – vacant WBA title
- Mark Chamberlain vs. Gavin Gwynne, 12 rounds, light-weight
- Justis Huni vs. Kevin Lerena, 10 rounds, heavyweight
Preliminary card
- Jack McGann vs. Louis Greene, 10 rounds, tremendous welterweight
- Roman Fury vs. Martin Svarc, 4 rounds, heavyweight
- Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Christian Lopez Flores, 6 rounds, tremendous light-weight
- Andrii Novytskyi vs. Juan Torres, 8 rounds, heavyweight
Roman Fury defeats Martin Svarc
Roman Fury, youthful brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, improved to 4-0 with a victory by determination over Martin Svarc (2-2) of the Czech Republic in a four-round heavyweight bout.
Fury, 27, made his professional boxing debut in 2022.
Ziyad Almaayouf defeats Christian Lopez Flores
Christian Lopez Flores of Mexico misplaced his 16th straight bout, with the newest defeat coming to Ziyad Almaayouf in a brilliant light-weight bout.
However Flores (14-36-2) has vital work forward to make historical past. Exactly, he’ll want 35 extra consecutive losses to match the 51-fight shedding streak stitched collectively by Robin Deakin of England between 2007 and 2015. Deakin, who fought within the tremendous light-weight division, completed his profession with a file of 2-53.
Almaayouf, who was born in Saudi Arabia however lives in Los Angeles, improved to 5-0 with a victory by unanimous determination over Christian Lopez Flores in a six-round tremendous light-weight combat.
Louis Greene def. Jack McGann
In a matchup with two Brits, Greene stopped McGann with a first-round TKO. Greene improved to 17-4 and McGann, a former MMA fighter, fell to 9-1-1.
Drake bets huge on AJ vs. Ngaannou
Many followers are wanting to make a revenue by predicting the winner of the competition, together with Canadian rapper Drake, who’s infamous for putting giant sums of cash on sports activities bets. On this explicit occasion, Drake wagered an astonishing $615,000 on newcomer Ngannou to overcome Joshua.
Learn extra about Drake’s wager.
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