Nigerian Anthony Joshua will be fighting with a former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, in Saudi Arabia.
This was contained in an announcement made by Matchroom and Queensberry on Friday night, where it was stated that the fight would take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March.
According to the statement, date for the fight will be confirmed next week, with a press conference planned for January 15 in London.
Daily Mail reports that the proposed date for the Joshua vs Wilder bout was March 9, with both parties signing on the dotted line ahead of their respective bouts in December.
Therefore, many believe the bout between AJ and French-Cameroonian, Ngannou, will replace the proposed fight between the British heavyweight and Wilder.
AJ stated his interest in fighting Ngannou after the former UFC star broke into the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings after his first professional boxing match.
No one gave Ngannou anything other than a puncher’s chance on his boxing debut against Tyson Fury last October.
Joshua continued his quest to return to the top of the heavyweight division with a dominant five-round win over Otto Wallin on December 23 but expectations that he would next face Deontay Wilder evaporated when the American lost to Joseph Parker on the same card.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout last October, although the latter still won a split decision, and is now ranked in the WBC’s top 10 of heavyweight contenders.