Ngannou-Joshua boxing match booked for 2024

Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou will take on Anthony Joshua later this year in a 10-round boxing match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, The MMA Hour's Ariel Helwani confirmed via Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia's chairman of general authority for entertainment.

The event is scheduled for March 8, sources told ESPN's Mike Coppinger.

Ngannou made his boxing debut in October 2023 against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. The former UFC fighter held his own against Fury, even sending his opponent to the ground with a left hook in the third round. However, that wasn't enough, as Ngannou lost via split decision (94-95, 96-93, 95-94) in a 10-round affair.

Ngannou's performance in his debut boxing match earned him a spot in the World Boxing Council's top-10 heavyweight rankings.

A former heavyweight champion himself, Joshua comes into the contest against the former UFC star with a record of 27-3 with 24 knockouts. He's riding a three-match winning streak, including a victory over Otto Wallin in December 2023.

The undercard is expected to feature Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, possibly against former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reports.