MMA Fighting has Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou live round-by-round updates for one of the most anticipated boxing fights of the year at the Freedom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday afternoon.
The main event is expected to begin around 6:30 p.m. ET on DAZN and PPV.com pay-per-view. Check out our Joshua vs. Ngannou results page to find out what happened on the undercard.
Anthony Joshua (27-3, 24 knockouts) has reeled off three straight wins, including two knockouts. He dispatched Otto Wallin via fifth-round knockout this past December.
Francis Ngannou (0-1) knocked down Tyson Fury in his first pro boxing fight this past October but fell short via split decision. Ngannou is a former UFC heavyweight champion and is currently signed with the PFL for mixed martial arts.
Get the Joshua vs. Ngannou round-by-round live blog below:
Prefight: Alrighty then! Let’s be honest, that co-main event was not thrilling. Zhilei Zhang probably should have won, but having about 12 punches worth of cardio makes that a tough ask. Now it’s on to the main event (probably in like an hour, given how the pacing of this card has gone).
Tyson Fury picks AJ by First-Round knockout. That seems unlikely. Man is a little salty after nearly losing to an MMA fighter. Thank goodness we got that prediction though. I was worried this card might finally be over. Fortunately it seems like we’ve got another 20 minutes before people start walking. The pacing tonight sure is something.
Finally! It appears we are actually going to get here. Ring walks begin and it’s Ngannou first out and he’s walking to “God’s Plan” by Drake. He’s in white shorts with gold tassels, and wearing a white robe with pink trim. And credit to Ngannou, the man could not look more at ease. A supremely confident individual.
Joshua now comes out. He’s also in a white robe, with black accents. He’s rocking white shorts. And in the famous words of Omar Little, I don’t see no sweat on his brow neither.
Michael Buffer get the festivities starting and I gotta say, for being damn near 80, the man is still doing great. If I’ve got half his pipe when I’m his age, I’ll consider myself lucky.
The two men meet in the middle for a final face off and touch gloves. It’s go time!
Round 1: Both men out in orthodox and Ngannou starts with a left hook. He’s tense to start. AJ setting some distance and putting a jab out there. Lots of feints on both sides. Ngannou eased up a bit and sneaks a pawing jab in there. And a left hook. Ngannou holding the center and lands a left to the body but that was ugly. AJ jabs. He’s taking some time to get the lay of the land in there.
Ngannou looks much better as a boxer from the Fury fight. Good form in defense. A little sloppy and over-eager. And Ngannou switches stances. He’s going to give different looks in there.
But AJ drops him!!!! Straight right hand and Ngannou hits the canvas!!! Too cocky and paid for it! Ngannou is up and seems to be okay but that’s a message and now Ngannou is back to orthodox. AJ tries to come in but Ngannou clinches. He’s got his feet under him now but AJ got a lot of confidence now.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8 Joshua.
Round 2: That was deeply amusing. Ngannou switched to southpaw and was immediately punished. Way too overconfident. And he was having a good round, too.
Both men step in with power. Both miss but they are not looking to box in there. They both want something serious. Ngannou holding the center and he’s biting on all the feints. He looks less comfortable now. Honestly, looks like a talented amateur. AJ is taking his time though and lands a right to the body.
AJ lines up a kill shot right hand but catches the shoulder. AJ has felt the power of Ngannou though and he’s not in a rush. He’s going to be methodical. Ngannou flashing the jab. Showing a decent double jab in spots. AJ is single shots, until it’s time for the right hand.
OH! Ngannou stepped in way too aggressive and ate a MASSIVE right hand! He’s down again! That was BADDDDDD. Ngannou is up though but he looks like he’s in trouble.
AND HE IS OH MY GOD IN HEAVEN LORD ABOVE ANTHONY JOSHUA SLEPT HIM! NGANNOU IS DOWN AND HE MIGHT NEVER GET UP. A CLEAN RIGHT HAND ON THE HURT NGANNOU AND THIS IS DONE. KO OF THE YEAR SEWN UP.
Post fight: Ngannou is finally up. Thank goodness. The first right hand is the cleanest you’ll ever see. Ngannou stepped right into it, full power, right on the temple. And then the finishing KO shot is full-on Tekken right hand. Ngannou was on shaky legs and AJ stepped into his right hand like Ngannou was a punch machine. Nasty fall, too.
AJ is all class afterwards. Ngannou might not know where he is, but AJ is there, telling him not to leave boxing. He tells Ngannou’s coaches that Francis can beat a lot of people, and then adds that he’d like to contribute to Francis’ foundation.
Official Decision: Anthony Joshua def. Francis Ngannou via KO — 2:38, Round 2.
Post fight: AJ all class in victory. He big ups Francis and shouts out his team. Then Eddie Hearn comes in to promote his fighter and build up a fight against the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury fight.
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