‘The Special One’ is in Riyadh for the blockbuster fight.

Boxing fans have said the same thing after Jose Mourinho was spotted ringside in Riyadh before Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou.

Joshua and Ngannou will do battle at around 11pm UK time in a fight billed as ‘Knockout Chaos’.

A host of high-profile names from across the sporting world are in attendance at the event, including Manny Pacquiao, Tyson Fury, and even Real Madrid and Brazil legend Ronaldo.

Mourinho, meanwhile, has been spotted sitting in the front rows of the venue alongside the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh.

It has been a busy evening for Mourinho, who walked out with the trophy prior to the Egypt Cup final between Al Ahly and Zamalek – which also took place in Saudi Arabia.

He made a rapid journey across to the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh to take in the boxing action on what has been a highly-anticipated card.

But after seeing Mourinho and the reaction he received from those in attendance upon appearing on the big screen, plenty of boxing fans had the same complaint regarding the event as a whole.

One fan wrote: “Biggest cheer of the night so far was for Jose Mourinho. Cracking atmosphere…”

Another agreed: “Hahahaha only cheer of the night so far for Jose Mourinho.”

A third opined: “The atmosphere for boxing in Saudi is absolutely shocking.”

Mourinho is currently out of work after being sacked by Roma earlier this year.


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The Portuguese icon delivered a Europa Conference League title to Rome in 2022, and reached the Europa League final last season, but a challenging run of form around the turn of the year into 2024 proved to be his undoing.

He has admitted that he has received job offers since he departed the club, but has yet to accept one.

Mourinho has been linked with a return to Chelsea, and with the soon-to-be vacant role at Bayern Munich once Thomas Tuchel leaves at the end of the current season.