Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou to have unusual rule for major fight after strict demand from UFC legend

Antony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou will take place in Saudi Arabia on Friday night.

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou to have unusual rule for major fight after strict demand from UFC legend

Anthony Joshus’s fight against Francis Ngannou is to have an unusual rule after a strict demand from the UFC legend.

On Friday night, the pair are set to enter the ring inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This is going to be Ngannou’s second boxing bout, having been beaten by Tyson Fury on his debut back in October.

Normally, a professional boxing fight takes place over 12 three-minute rounds.

However, Joshua vs Ngannou will instead have only 10 three-minute rounds, after a request from the former UFC champion.

As reported by The Sun, the Cameroonian said: “They told me 12 and I said ‘No, cut it out.’ I’m not taking a Mike Tyson fight as a reference like ‘Oh, I’m a pro boxer now’.

“No, I’m building it up. I just came into it, they asked for ten rounds or 12 rounds, and I said ten.”

Ngannou also spoke about the prospect of having mixed rules, he said: “Anything that he wants. Ring or octagon. The good thing is I’m the one that can go everywhere comfortably. My comfort zone will be the octagon, but I’m going to the ring and putting them in a bad spot in the ring.

“I have my territory [in MMA] where they cannot mess with me. If they come, they will need something like some favour, like, ‘I’ll give you this, we’ll take kicks out.’”

Image
Getty

Ngannou added: “I have to give him something, but when we step in the ring, they don’t give me anything, and I still get them in trouble.”

Ahead of the fight, Joshua said: “On paper, but there’s a reality init? Look at how I came up in the game, I came out of nowhere and three years got myself to the Olympics and became Olympic champion.

“In three years as a professional, became world champion. Stranger things have happened in life, but I’m a different beast and I’m ready.”

Related Posts

Prince Harry breaks cover without Meghan after release of panned Netflix show

Prince Harry was spotted attending a charity concert to help raise funds for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires – days after the release of wife Meghan…

EastEnders’ Lorraine Stanley gives one-word Sabrina Carpenter review as she slams husband

EastEnders actress Lorraine Stanley had just one-word to say about pop star Sabrina Carpenter as she hit out at her husband for taking their eight-year-old daughter to…

Katie Price’s ear baffles fans as they ask ‘what happened? in Harvey post

Katie Price’s followers fear another Photoshop fail after she uploaded a cute photo with son Harvey – and one fan asked if he had drawn her eyebrows…

Prince Harry branded ‘a spare part’ as appearance in Meghan Markle’s show sparks concerns

A commentator expressed concerns over Prince Harry’s persona following his brief appearances in wife Meghan Markle’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan Shane Watson, a columnist for The…

Dancing On Ice staff ‘told show won’t be returning’ as ITV contest faces axe

Dancing on Ice aired its 2025 final last night with Coronation Street’s Sam Aston taking home the win, however staff members have reportedly been told that the…

Two key royals missing from Commonwealth Day service as Kate Middleton returns

The Royal Family, including King Charles and the Princess of Wales, gathered together for one of the biggest events in the royal calendar – the annual Commonwealth…