Anthony Joshua confirmed to fight Francis Ngannou next after Deontay Wilder deal broke down
Watch now: Anthony Joshua speaks about his interview
Eddie Hearn has announced that Anthony Joshua's next fight will be up against MMA icon Francis Ngannou, who came close to upsetting Tyson Fury last year.
Joshua has been on the comeback trail ever since losing his heavyweight belts to Oleksandr Usyk.
He fought three times in a calendar year in 2023 for the first time since 2016 and won all of his bouts against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Walin to get back on track.
His latest victory over Wallin was set to be a precursor to a blockbuster fight with Deontay Wilder.
Anthony Joshua's next fight has been confirmed
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The two heavyweight figures had teased an agreement in Saudi Arabia, but Wilder's humiliating loss to Joseph Parker led to that deal breaking down.
A fight against IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic had been touted as an alternative possibility with Fury and Usyk expected to vacate that belt after their first fight next month.
However, Hearn has now announced that Joshua will fight 10 rounds against Ngannou in Saudi Arabia as his next fight.
He wrote on X: “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 deal is another huge coup for Saudi Arabia, where Usyk and Fury's undisputed heavyweight fight in February will also take place.
Joshua will also have to be wary after Ngannou shocked the world in his last fight by putting Fury on the canvas.
But Hearn doesn't appear worried about the ex-UFC champion and doubts whether he would ever win a boxing title.
The boxing promoter 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.
Francis Ngannou nearly defeated Tyson Fury last time out
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"Johnny Fisher vs Ngannou is a total mismatch, Fisher would have him out of there in a round."
Joshua's end goal is to ultimately win back the heavyweight belts he lost and that may eventually lead to an all-British clash with Fury if the 'Gypsy King' beats Usyk.
But Joshua was far from impressed by Fury's performance against Ngannou last year, mocking his rival for being dropped.
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Anthony Joshua was originally set to fight Deontay Wilder
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He said: "Bodybuilder's up, dosser's down. He just looked like a flat slob that just can't fight. He says bodybuilders can't fight but he got smacked up by one.
"I've always wanted to get in the ring with him. He does a lot of talking, calls me a bodybuilder and stuff.
"It's tough at the top. Getting there is one thing but staying there is another and he's starting to see. It's not easy.
"Good luck to him anyway, but he's got to stop running his mouth because it does come back and bite you."