Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou start time, full fight card details | Knockout Chaos

Francis Ngannou will return to the boxing ring later TODAY (Fri., March 8, 2024) for simply the second time to face off in opposition to Anthony Joshua reside on DAZN (stream it here) at “Knockout Chaos” in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which has develop into the brand new hub for all large fights. The winner will be in line to face off in opposition to the person who comes out on high of the upcoming championship showdown between Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk.

What’s Scorching:

Ngannou may have lost to Tyson Fury, however he impressed the heck out of everyone — “Gypsy King” included — for his efficiency, which noticed him knock down the long-time boxer. That was “The Predator’s” official introduction into “The Candy Science,” and he greater than proved any naysayers incorrect. In his sophomore effort in boxing, the Cameroonian isn’t taking a step again as a result of he’ll face one other former champion in Joshua. Speak about being thrown into the fireplace. Ngannou has the prospect to make historical past in the present day, and maybe delay his eventual return to mixed martial arts (MMA) even further, however he can’t depend on the success he had in opposition to Fury and get too overconfident in opposition to a hard-hitting knockout machine like Joshua.

Since dropping his WBA (Tremendous), IBF, WBO and IBO Heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk — after which failing to win them back in the rematch — Joshua went on to win his subsequent three fights. Joshua has gone on report to say that he not sees Ngannou as just an MMA fighter, which is large props from such a longtime veteran of the game. However, the actual fact stays, Joshua is leaps and bounds extra expert than “The Predator.” Ngannou now has far more confidence going into his second boxing battle. And credit score to the hard-hitting large man as a result of who else can say their first two fights within the sport got here in opposition to Fury and Joshua? The reply is … Ngannou. If “The Predator” can pull off the most important upset — like he nearly did in opposition to Fury — the boxing world will probably be turned upside-down and a brand new Sheriff will probably be sworn in. Positive, he received’t be champion — that opportunity will come if he wins — however Ngannou will have the ability to write his personal ticket transferring ahead, which might probably imply the top of his MMA profession for good.

What’s Not:

Joshua and Fury have had their dominant years, teasing a battle in opposition to one another for a while now. However regardless of being shut, a battle between the 2 by no means materialized. But, right here comes Ngannou and he faces them each in his first two fights as an expert. I perceive that boxing politics all the time come into play, but when “The Predator” can face these two behemoths of the boxing recreation as a newcomer, then there actually is not any true cause for a battle between Fury and Joshua to have by no means occurred. Assist me make that make sense. What’s subsequent … Ngannou will face Deontay Wilder before Joshua does? At this charge I wouldn’t be shocked.

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

A WBA Tremendous Welterweight title battle between Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov was on the point of getting canceled after Madrimov’s medical test showed an anomaly. Fortunately, after a second spherical of testing every part was cleared up and the battle will proceed. Undefeated at 9-0-1, Madrimov is on the search for gold after as soon as holding the Intercontinental title. With a 60 % end charge, Madrimov has confirmed to have authentic knockout energy, however so does Kurbanov. At 25-0, “The Black Lion” has knocked out half of his opponents with 9 of these finishes coming in lower than 4 rounds. The winner will get the vacant strap and a much bigger battle in his subsequent outing.

Undefeated (14-0) Light-weight sensation, Mark Chamberlain, will try to choose up his fifteenth straight win when he goes toe-to-toe in opposition to British brawler, Gavin Gwynne. Chamberlain waded into boxing as an expert six years in the past, however has already racked up 10 knockouts (six within the first spherical). So, it’s clear that his principal goal is to get in and get out with out breaking a sweat. Towards Gwynne, he faces a talented fighter, however he hasn’t precisely confirmed to have lights-out energy in his arms. He does have plenty of championship battle expertise, although, so it could behoove Chamberlain to not take him frivolously.

Within the different Heavyweight battle, 28-year-old Ukrainian large man, Andrii Novytskyi, will try to up his undefeated win streak to 10-0. With a 90 % end charge to this point, Novytskyi additionally likes to get the job finished early, with all of his stoppage wins by no means going previous spherical 4. His opponent, Juan Torres, is just about leaning towards journeyman standing as a result of with a report of 11-5, attending to the highest looks like an insurmountable job. That’s to not say he can’t accomplish it, it’s simply that he hasn’t proven a lot consistency within the victory division. However, if he can hand Novytskyi his first-ever defeat it could be a much-needed increase of confidence for his profession.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

LIVE! Stream ‘KNOCKOUT CHAOS’ On PPV

KNOCKOUT CHAOS! “Riyadh Season” concludes on Sat., March 9, 2024, as former unified Heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, seems to be to halt the surprising rise of former Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, who shocked the fight sports activities world with a thrilling “Sweet Science” debut in opposition to Tyson Fury again in Oct. 2023. Within the DAZN-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) co-main occasion, interim WBO Heavyweight champion, Zhang Zhilei, will lock horns with skilled spoiler, Joseph Parker — who torched Joshua’s long-awaited showdown in opposition to Deontay Wilder — in a pivotal showdown. The blockbuster excessive stakes pay-per-view (PPV) extravaganza will stream reside from Saudi Arabia on DAZN, in addition to PPV.com, with a particular late morning begin time at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT with a PPV price ticket of $69.99.

Don’t miss a single second of epic face-punching action!

Joshua could have a tough time residing it down if he loses to a novice boxer. He has been boxing professionally for multiple decade and received many world titles, whereas Ngannou began simply final yr. “The Predator” confirmed he has the ability to place anybody on their butt, and Andy Ruiz Jr. confirmed that Joshua can be stopped with powerful shots. Joshua merely can’t lose this battle if he needs his profession trajectory to maintain trending upward and to salvage a possible third battle in opposition to Usyk, or a much-desired big-money showdown in opposition to Fury.

Curiosity Degree: 7.5/10

Within the co-main occasion, interim WBO Heavyweight champion, Zhang Zhilei, will be taking on Joseph Parker, who’s coming off the biggest win of his career by defeating Deontay Wilder to shut out 2023 (see it again here). Parker is the youthful fighter of the 2 at 32 years of age in comparison with the 40 year-old Zhang. Parker is presently driving a four-fight win streak and has received 10 of his final 11 fights, together with back-to-back wins over longtime veteran, Derek Chisora. With one other spectacular win, Parker intends to chop the road over the winner of Joshua-Ngannou in opposition to Usyk or Fury. However Zhang doesn’t intend to exit simple as a result of he’s coming in scorching after back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Joyce. A win over Parker places him within the championship dialog.

WBC Featherweight champion, Rey Vargas, will defend his title in opposition to undefeated sensation, Nick Ball, who’s 19-0 in his skilled profession. Vargas suffered the primary lack of his profession in his earlier bout, arising quick in opposition to O’Shaquie Foster, failing to win the vacant WBC Tremendous Featherweight strap. He’ll look to erase that reminiscence by securing his first-ever title protection in opposition to a person who is aware of nothing however successful. Ball has 11 knockouts on his resume, so he is aware of a factor or two about placing on a present. The 27-year-old Brit is the present WBC Silver Featherweight champion and is now out to say one other strap for his mantle.

All in all it ought to be an entertaining card, however all eyes will clearly be on the primary course. If Ngannou can shock the world, then his inventory will get a giant increase (and has more to rub in Dana’s face), and can put him one more win away from a world title battle. The headlines will write themselves, the millions will keep pouring in for “The Predator” and the, “I instructed you so” alternatives will probably be a lot. Ngannou has confirmed he’s already a winner, now he is able to take that large subsequent step in his profession.

Full Joshua vs. Ngannou Combat Card:

Fundamental Occasion

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou Heavyweight

Co-Fundamental Occasion

Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker WBO interim Heavyweight title battle

Undercard

Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball WBC Featherweight title battle
Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov, vacant WBA Tremendous Welterweight title battle
Mark Chamberlain vs. Gavin Gwynne Light-weight
Andrii Novytskyi vs. Juan Torres Heavyweight

For extra on Ngannou’s upcoming battle in opposition to Joshua click on here.