EDDIE HEARN has confirmed Anthony Joshua’s next fight will be against UFC legend Francis Ngannou – the man who rocked Tyson Fury.
After reports emerged on social media late on Friday night, the Matchroom boxing chief took to X to announce that they were true.
Hearn added that the exact date for the mega-money clash will unveiled at a press conference in London on January 15.
Although the bout is expected to take place on March 9.
Hearn wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Tonight we confirm it’s a Done Deal! @anthonyjoshua v @francis_ngannou collide on a huge night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – press conference Jan 15 in London with full details dropping soon.”
The bout is set to be a ten-round boxing match between the two-time former heavyweight champion and ex-UFC title holder, and is another coup for Saudi dealmaker Turki Al-Sheikh.
The news comes after AJ’s £100million two-fight deal with Deontay Wilder went up in smoke last month after the American suffered a shock defeat to former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
The first of the duo’s back-to-back fights was set to take place in Saudi Arabia on the March date.
And a spring return to action still appears to be on the cards for the Brit, even though a long-overdue showdown with Wilder isn’t.
Hearn recently hinted that Joshua could replicate the schedule he had in 2023, in which he fought three times in the space of ten months, winning all three.
He defeated Jermain Franklin by unanimous decision back in March before knocking out Robert Helenius in the seventh round in August.
Joshua then stretched his winning-streak to three by forcing Wallin to retire at the end of the fifth round last month in Saudi.
Meanwhile the 37-year-old Ngannou put his MMA career on hold last year to fight WBC champ Fury, 35, in Saudi.
And he almost stunned the boxing world when he incredibly dropped the Gypsy King, only to be controversially denied a stunning victory on points.
Despite the defeat, his stock has risen and now he has secured what promises to be another bumper payday against one of boxing’s finest, after banking £8m for his last outing in the ring with Fury.
Although Hearn does not fancy Ngannou’s chances of an upset this time, as he talked down the Cameroonian’s abilities on talkSPORT on Friday night.
After confirming the bout, Hearn said: “If you watch him on the pads – I don’t want to be disrespectful – but there is absolutely no way in the world that Francis Ngannou could win even a Southern Area title.
“Johnny Fisher is our guy, Southern Area champion. Johnny Fisher vs Ngannou is a total mismatch, Fisher would have him out of there in a round.”
Ngannou posted his own message to fans on social media tonight amid the news, saying: “Making big moves in the new year. 2024 is going to be [fire emoji].”
Joshua is desperate to return to the top of the mountain in the heavyweight division and become a three-time champ.
However, he and the rest of the top contenders are currently waiting to see who emerges triumphant when Fury and Oleksandr Usyk face-off in their unification fight.
That mouthwatering showdown will also take place in Saudi on February 17 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Usyk, who beat Joshua for the WBA, WBO and IBF straps and then triumphed in the rematch, has a record of 21-0, while undefeated Fury sits at 33-1-0.
