[WATCH/FULL@FIGHT!!] Anthony Joshua vs Ngannou Live Free Streaming Online Broadcast 8 March 2024
Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou FREE LIVE STREAM (3/8/2024): Watch boxing online | Time, TV, channel. Anthony Joshua meets Francis Ngannou in another huge boxing event in Saudi Arabia tonight.
Click Here to Watch Joshua vs Ngannou Full Fight Live Online
Tonight sees Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou step into the ring for a mouthwatering heavyweight boxing fight in Saudi Arabia. The former two-time world heavyweight champion is looking to do what great rival Tyson Fury could not and put on an impressive display against the ex-UFC star in Riyadh.
Ngannou shocked the world by first flooring and then running a bloodied Fury close on his professional boxing debut back in October, losing only to a controversial decision. Clearly a dangerous opponent despite his limited time in the ring, it will be fascinating to see how Joshua deals with the pressure.
Here’s everything you need to know about where to watch the blockbuster fight live this evening.
The main event for “Knockout Chaos” features two former-heavyweight champions. Anthony Joshua, a British boxer and a two-time former-unified heavyweight champion, faces off against Francis Ngannou, a Cameroonian-French fighter and former-UFC heavyweight champion.
Joshua vs Ngannou happens at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a start time of 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT. However, the main event begins at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
HOW TO WATCH
What: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou
When: Friday, March 8, 2024
Fight time: 11 a.m. ET
Main Event: 6 p.m. ET
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Stream: DAZN PPV
Although the bout is formidable, Joshua is the clear favorite - especially with a record of 27-3. However, Ngannou is no slouch himself. Despite his 0-1 record, the Cameroon-born fighter is known for his punching power, while he’s also hungry to get his first win as a professional boxer.
It’s another huge event in Riyadh, dubbed ‘Knockout Chaos’ in preparation of a high-profile card that also includes Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker going head to head in another eagerly anticipated showdown in the sport’s blue riband division.
A little over four months have passed now since Ngannou almost shocked the world on his professional boxing debut in Riyadh, knocking down unbeaten WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury before dropping a controversial split decision in their gripping 10-round contest.
What was expected to be an easy night’s work for master tactician Fury against the former MMA superstar and UFC heavyweight champion proved anything but, the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ cut and bloodied by the big-punching Ngannou, whose performance despite the lack of a winning result was an overwhelming triumph that promised an intriguing future in professional boxing.
‘The Predator’ is certainly not one to shirk a challenge and now takes on another marquee heavyweight name in his second bout.
Two-time former unified world champion Joshua is back in form after those pair of back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk that threatened his very career, beating both Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius in rather low-key comeback fights before rediscovering his dominant explosive streak to wipe out Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia before Christmas.
Deontay Wilder’s shock defeat by Parker on that same bill ruled out an overdue showdown with long-time rival Joshua for now, but the 2012 Olympic gold medalist will still be looking for another decisive display this weekend as he bids to eventually wrestle back some world title stardust and secure a meeting with the winner of the rescheduled undisputed fight between champions Fury and Usyk, which now takes place in May.
Joshua vs Ngannou full fight card
Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou, 10 rounds, heavyweights
Zhilei Zhang vs Joseph Parker, 12 rounds, for Zhang’s WBO interim heavyweight title
Rey Vargas vs Nick Ball, 12 rounds, for Vargas’ WBC featherweight title
Israil Madrimov vs Magomed Kurbanov, 12 rounds, for the vacant WBA super welterweight title
Mark Chamberlain vs Gavin Gwynne, 12 rounds, lightweights
Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena, 10 rounds, heavyweights
Jack McGann vs Louis Greene, 10 rounds, super welterweights
Roman Fury vs Martin Svarc, 4 rounds, heavyweights
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Christian Lopez Flores, 6 rounds, super lightweights
Andrii Novytski vs Juan Torres, 8 rounds, heavyweights
The worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts have become entwined in recent years, with the stars of both sports meeting in the boxing ring to display their various talents.
Francis Ngannou is arguably the fighter who has taken the swap of disciplines most seriously, clashing with world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury last year in his boxing debut and more than holding his own in a controversial defeat.
And the former UFC heavyweight title holder will once again step into the ring to take on another British former world heavyweight champion, this time in the shape of Anthony Joshua.
With a possible future title fight on the line - reports have suggested the winner could face the victor of the highly-anticipated Fury-Oleksandr Usyk unification fight - there’s a lot riding on Joshua and Ngannou’s clash.
Ngannou was a bruising striker in mixed martial arts, smashing through the competition to become UFC champion before leaving the promotion amid a contract dispute over both financial aspects and Ngannou's desire to test himself in the boxing ring. Very few gave Ngannou a chance against Tyson Fury in their October 2023 meeting given, even in MMA, he was not the most technical striker.
Against Fury, Ngannou showed surprising technique but also a veteran's patience to take advantage of a somewhat unfocused Fury. While he didn't get the win, Ngannou gave Fury, the consensus best heavyweight boxer in the world, one of the toughest fights of his career, leading to a demand for Ngannou to return to the boxing ring.
There's another intriguing heavyweight fight on Friday night with title implications. WBO interim champ Zhilei Zhang is set to take on Jospeh Parker. Zhang earned the interim title with an April 2023 TKO win over Joe Joyce.
He retained that status in a rematch five months later with a second TKO of Joyce. Now, he takes on Parker, who is coming off his own impressive win over former WBC champ Deontay Wilder in December. The winner is likely to become a mandatory challenger for the winner of Usyk-Fury at some point later this year.
A former two-time unified heavyweight champion, Joshua is on a two-fight win streak after losing twice to Oleksandr Usyk. He knocked out Robert Helenius and dismantled Otto Wallin in his last fight in December. “AJ” was supposed to fight Deontay Wilder following the Day of Reckoning fight card, but the latter lost against Joseph Parker, who is competing on the undercard.
Ngannou is a former UFC heavyweight champion.
The Cameroonian parted ways with the UFC in 2022 following failed contract talks and signed with the Professional Fighters League. Part of his deal with the PFL is to box, and he turned pro in October against Fury. “The Predator” lost his boxing debut, but he did knock down the WBC heavyweight champion.
Both the British former world champion and his opponent are riding high going into their meeting, with Joshua claiming a classy win against Otto Wallin in Riyadh in late December.
Ngannou was last year's surprise package in his first ever heavyweight fight when he stopped Tyson Fury from waltzing away with victory by dropping the Gypsy King, and forcing him all the way - only to lose via split decision.
But the UFC crossover star's statement of intent against Fury has helped bolster his image as a genuine prospect, and an opponent Joshua shouldn't be taking for granted.
It's that last fact that might leave some fans with a bit of confusion on Friday morning. An evening affair on the other side of the world will take place in the late morning and extend into the early evening stateside.
Ngannou, who comes over with a 17-3 UFC record, got his first taste of the boxing world in what should have been a tall task against Tyson Fury in October. An uninspiring Fury earned a split decision victory, leaving many to believe that the French-Cameroonian's transition to boxing would be a successful one going forward.
Anthony Joshua has seemingly regained his old form. After back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk (the first in September 2021 and the second in August 2022), Joshua has won three-straight fights to improve to 27-3. The first victory was against Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, followed by wins against Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin in August and December of 2023, respectively.
Former UFC standout Francis Ngannou is proving to be a formidable boxer. Ngannou lost a close fight to Tyson Fury in October 2023, but things could very well go his way when he steps into the ring against Joshua.