RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 08: Anthony Joshua punches Francis Ngannou during the Heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou on the Knockout Chaos boxing card at the Kingdom Arena on March 08, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The former UFC heavyweight champion was knocked out cold in just two rounds by the former unified heavyweight champion, who proved to be much more of a problem for Ngannou than WBC champion Tyson Fury had in October.
Ngannou entered that Fury match as a heavy underdog against the champion — one promoter called the matchup "a disgrace" — but he differentiated himself from the many MMA fighters-turned-boxers with a performance that wouldn't have looked out of place from a seasoned heavyweight contender. He managed to knock down Fury in the third round and had the crowd chanting his name in the final round.
He had no such luck Friday in Riyadh. He was knocked down once in the first round and twice in the second, likely ending the Cameroonian's short-lived boxing career.
In a slog of a co-main event, Zhilei Zhang scored two knockdowns against Joseph Parker, but it wasn't enough as Parker walked away with a majority decision to claim the WBC interim heavyweight title. Zhang took his foot off the pedal after both knockdowns, which came in rounds 3 and 6, and Parker stayed busy enough for the points win.
"I feel like we're on the up now, Zhang is a tough man," Parker said in his post-fight interview. "He knocked me down twice. I'm very happy, I'm going to go home and celebrate. Hard work, hard work, hard work. It's an incredible feeling, look where we are. What's next is I'm fighting Zhang again, that's what we're contracted to."
Here's how the entire card unfolded in Saudi Arabia:
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER78 updates
Yahoo Sports Staff
Rough night for Ngannou. Personally I hope his next fight is in MMA. Come back home, remind people what you can do in the cage. There could still be boxing opportunities down the line if he wants them.
Francis Ngannou is in the ring and Anthony Joshua is making his ring walk now. Fight might actually begin before 3:40 a.m. local time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Yahoo Sports Staff
I know a lot of people think Ngannou has a chance but he ain’t sneaking up on nobody and I expect Joshua to put him on the end of the jab and catch him late for a TKO. People forget how good of a boxer and finisher Joshua is.
Despite being knocked down twice, Parker wins the interim title by scores of 113-113, 114-112 and 115-111.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Just an absolute catastrophe for Zhilei Zhang. Credit Joseph Parker, who was in shape and had a great game plan. But in the biggest fight of his career Zhang shows no urgency. Drops Parker twice and does virtually nothing else. Deserves a loss.
Trainer told Zhang he needs a KO before the 12th, but Zhang must not have heard as he barely throws any punches. Fight ends after 12 and now it's in the judges' hands.
Yahoo Sports Staff
12th round starting now
Yahoo Sports Staff
#ZhangParker a frustrating fight to watch. Zhang barely throws any shots but when he lands he hurts Parker. Parker throwing more but not landing much, lot of movement. Rd 11 coming up. #boxing#KnockoutChaos
Zero urgency from Zhang as the fight heads into the 11th round. Parker keeps throwing shots and Zhang is deflecting. Corner tells Parker he's fighting a smart fight in between rounds.
Zhang puts Parker down again! This time with a right hook! Again, Parker hops back up to continue fighting.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Joe Parker always comes to fight, and he's got a really cool (and very smart) head in his corner with Andy Lee. Zhang better be prepared to take this into the late rounds. #ZhangParker
Parker jumping right back into the action instead of taking some time to recompose himself was probably a mistake, but he does survive the round. Zhang can finish it now in the 4th.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Parker hops back up, but he's shaken.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Zhang sits Parker down with a straight left!
Yahoo Sports Staff
Zhang staying patient and landing some heavy shots to the body. Parker picking his spots without much success. Two feeling-out rounds in the books.
The co-main event ring walks are actually starting! It's a 12-rounder with Zhilei Zhang's WBO interim heavyweight title on the line against Joseph Parker. Zhang is a massive 291 pounds while Parker weighed in at 247. The heavyweight chaos begins now.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Big Bang Zhang up next defending his interim heavyweight title against Joseph Parker. He's entering the fight as a -225 favorite. Parker is +188.
Rey Vargas looked terrible and is probably washed but he got absolutely robbed tonight. That first knockdown was not a knockdown. No way. Without it, he wins a split decision.
Judges score it 114-112 Vargas, 116-110 Ball and 113-113 for a split draw. Vargas retains his WBC featherweight title despite hitting the canvas multiple times.
Yahoo Sports Staff
We're going to the scorecards. Ball came on strong late and scored some knockdowns that could be the difference
Yahoo Sports Staff
The knockdown in the 11th will likely decide the fight. Fight could've gone either way before that. 12th round starting now.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Down goes Vargas again!
Yahoo Sports Staff
Vargas back on track in Round 9 and likely won the round. Landed some clean shots while Ball continues pressing forward.
Yahoo Sports Staff
That wasn’t a knockdown dude! WTF! This is one SHITTY ref #boxing
Heavyweight: Joseph Parker def. Zhilei Zhang by majority decision (113-113, 114-112, 115-111) Featherweight championship: Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball ends in a split draw (114-112, 110-116, 113-113 Super welterweight championship: Israil Madrimov def. Magomed Kurbanov by TKO in R5 Lightweight: Mark Chamberlain def. Gavin Gwynne by TKO in R4:
Heavyweight: Andrii Novytskyi def. Juan Torres by TKO at 2:43 of R1 Super lightweight: Ziyad Almaayouf def. Christian Lopez Flores by decision (60-54) Heavyweight: Roman Fury def. Martin Svarc by decision (39-37)
