Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou weigh-in LIVE: Latest updates ahead of fight in Saudi Arabia
All weigh-in results after ‘AJ’, Ngannou and the undercard fighters hit the scales in Riyadh
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Your support makes all the difference.Francis Ngannou was 20.2lbs heavier than Anthony Joshua at Thursday’s weigh-in for their boxing match in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, will fight the ex-UFC champion in Riyadh on Friday (8 March).
Ahead of their 10-round professional contest, “AJ” and the “Predator” hit the scales and came face to face for the final time before Friday’s first bell. Ngannou weighed in first, coming in at 272.6lbs – 0.4lbs heavier than he was in his boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October. Joshua followed at 252.4lbs – 1.4lbs heavier than he was against Otto Wallin in December.
Ngannou dropped the unbeaten Fury in Riyadh before losing a controversial decision. The Briton’s WBC title was not on the line in that bout. Two months later, Joshua stopped Wallin in five rounds to make it three wins from as many fights in 2023.
Re-live the weigh-in below.
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
Next up will be China’s Zhilei Zhang and New Zealand’s Joseph Parker!
Zhang, 40, defends the WBO interim heavyweight belt against Parker, 32, tomorrow.
As we wait for the fighters to emerge, read our preview of the bout here:
How ‘Big Bang’ Zhang can steal Joshua and Ngannou’s thunder
Moments before Joshua and Ngannou share the ring in Riyadh, Zhilei Zhang will defend his interim title against Joseph Parker
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
Tomorrow night, Rey Vargas defends his WBC featherweight title against the unbeaten Nick Ball.
Liverpudlian Ball tips the scales at 126lbs. Mexican Vargas then comes in at 125lbs.
Look at the height difference in this one!
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
Now here come the unbeaten pair of Magomed Kurbanov and Israil Madrimov.
The super-welterweights will meet to crown a WBA champion, with the belt currently vacant.
Kurbanov is 153.6lbs, before Madrimov also weighs in at 153.6lbs.
Two fights in a row where each fighter has tipped the scales at the same weight as his opponent!
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
Now we have Mark Chamberlain, specifically picked to fight here by Saudi adviser Turki Al-Sheikh, and Gavin Gwynne.
England’s Chamberlain weighs in at 134.6lbs, before Welshman Gwynne also comes in at 134.6lbs.
The Britons are set for their lightweight contest, which is for the vacant WBA International belt.
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
153.2lbs for England’s Louis Greene, whose compatriot Jack McGann tips the scales at 153.4 lbs.
The pair will clash at super-welterweight tomorrow.
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
Kevin Lerena: 232.4lbs.
Justis Huni: 243.2lbs
It’s South Africa (Lerena) vs Australia (Huni) in this heavyweight clash tomorrow.
Lerena’s mother sadly passed away yesterday. No one would have blamed him for not fighting tomorrow, or even deciding not to show up today.
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
2-0 Czech Martin Svarc comes in at 225.6lbs, before his opponent Roman Fury – half-brother of Tyson – tips the scales at 224lbs. Fury is 3-0 as a pro.
This fight is taking place at heavyweight, though it was initially set to be at cruiserweight.
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
Now Mexico’s Christian Lopez Flores takes to the stage, followed by Saudi Arabia’s own Ziyad Almaayouf.
Almaayouf is looking to stay unbeaten in this super-lightweight contest. He is currently 4-0, while Flores has a losing record of 14-35-2 (wins, losses, draws).
Flores weighs in at 142lbs. Almaayouf comes in at 144lbs.
Joshua vs Ngannou weigh-in LIVE
First onto the stage...
Juan Torres and Andrii Novytskyi, ahead of their heavyweight bout tomorrow.
Texan Torres tips the scales at 255.6lbs. Ukraine’s Novytskyi follows, weighing in at 239.4lbs.
That’s a 16lbs advantage for Torres, if you see it as an advantage; Novytskyi is the one with an unbeaten record.
Torres with a bit of a shove, as he and Novytskyi come face to face. He didn’t fully commit!
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