MYSTERY surrounds Anthony Joshua’s next fight after a sensational report claimed it was a “done deal” to face Francis Ngannou.
Renowned sport journalist Ariel Helwani announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the contracts had been signed for the huge crossover bout.
ReutersAnthony Joshua is set for a bumper Saudi showdown in March[/caption]
He claimed that a ten-round boxing match between the two-time former heavyweight champion and UFC legend would take place in Riyadh in March.
He even tagged Saudi dealmaker Turki Al-Sheikh in his post to apparently cement the authenticity.
However, boxing’s new paymaster from the Middle East added confusion moments later by sharing Helwani’s post along with an emoji of a man shrugging.
In his video post, Helwani said: “Massive breaking news this Friday evening from the world of combat sports.
“I have confirmed via Mr Turki Al-Sheikh that it is a done deal, it is going down, Francis Ngannou, ‘Le Predator’, the former UFC heavyweight champion is returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia just a few months removed from his incredible performance against Tyson Fury, after an incredible year where he leaves UFC, signs with PFL and gets the big Tyson fight and shocks everyone.
“He is returning to action in a boxing match, later on this year, to go up against the former heavyweight champion, the man who had an incredible 2023 in his own right, the man who just won at ‘Day of Reckoning’ on December 23 in Riyadh – the one and only AJ Anthony Joshua.”
He continued: “It is a done deal.”
He continued: “It is a done deal on both ends.
“Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou, ten-round fight later on this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“I have confirmed this via Mr Turki Al-Sheikh and my own sources and there is going to be a press conference, I’m told, later on this month in London to officially announce the date.
“But it is going down, it is done, Francis vs AJ. The Francis boxing journey continues and now he goes up against the former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua who just beat Otto Wallin.
“Tremendous stuff. More to come. Stay tuned.”
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 March 9.
And a spring return to action is still very much on the cards for the Brit, even though a long-overdue showdown with Wilder isn’t.
His Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn recently said: “I think he’s gonna fight in March.”
Hearn hopes Joshua can replicate the schedule he had in 2023, in which he fought three times in the space of ten months, winning all three.
He beat 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.
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