The former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is expected to earn ₦31.6 billion ($20 million) from Anthony Joshua’s much-anticipated fight, which is expected to bring in a stunning ₦79 billion ($50 million).
Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua, two of the most powerful punchers in combat sports, are about to square off in what seems to be a mega fight.
Ngannou is now a real danger in the heavyweight class because to his impressive performance against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
For a while, it looked unlikely that Ngannou would transition to boxing. But when he gave one of the hardest fights of Fury’s career and put on an amazing display against him, opinions quickly shifted.
Ngannou’s strength, durability, and sheer power have made him a lucrative match for any opponent.
While Joshua is considered a stronger puncher than Fury, facing Ngannou presents a different kind of challenge.
Unlike Fury, Joshua and his camp have studied Ngannou’s boxing skills extensively, but Ngannou’s prowess in the squared circle remains untested under the lights.
The Fight Ahead
The bout between Joshua and Ngannou is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main event is expected to commence at approximately 11:50 am Nigerian time, with the match set to last 10 rounds, each lasting three minutes.
As anticipation builds for the showdown between Joshua and Ngannou, all eyes will be on the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. With Joshua poised to earn a significant sum from the fight, both fighters are gearing up for what promises to be an electrifying encounter in the ring.
But before the fists fly in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Ngannou engaged in some verbal sparring with former foe Tyson Fury at a recent news conference.
The pair fought last year in October at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, with Francis Ngannou coming out victorious.
Ngannou had a bit of a heated argument with Fury during his press conference ahead of his fight with Anthony Joshua
Ngannou cheekily said to Fury, according to reports from BBC, “I had one win over [Fury] and I want one more,”
Fury didn’t hesitate to respond, suggesting a showdown in the UFC’s trademark octagon: “I would face Ngannou in the ‘octagon’.”
However, Ngannou quickly shut down that possibility, asserting, “Your only chance is in a boxing ring, with boxing rules.”
Despite his contentious split-decision loss to Fury in their previous bout, Ngannou is undeterred. “I’m just getting started,” he affirmed. “I don’t think that [beating Joshua] will make any statement of my career because the road is still long.”
Ngannou, who made waves in the MMA world as the UFC’s reigning heavyweight champion, remains unfazed by the challenge ahead. “I really think I haven’t shocked the world yet,” he added, highlighting his continuous learning curve in the sport of boxing.
Joshua, on the other hand, remains focused on the task at hand. “Let’s go. The best man will always win. It’s not rocket science,” he succinctly stated when asked about Ngannou’s knockout aspirations.
