Anthony Joshua defeated Jake Paul by knockout in the sixth round of their heavyweight fight in Miami, establishing himself as a top puncher and potentially positioning for a title shot or a match with Tyson Fury.
Tom Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight champion, is favored to win against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, with predictions pointing to a knockout or submission victory, despite returning from a 15-month layoff. The fight takes place in Abu Dhabi on October 25, with various predictions highlighting Aspinall's knockout power and grappling advantage.
Valter Walker's scheduled heavyweight fight at UFC Rio was canceled hours before weigh-ins after Mohammad Usman withdrew, leaving the opponent for Walker, who is known for his submission skills, uncertain.
Tom Aspinall is eager to face Jon Jones in what he believes could be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history. After Jones' dominant victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Aspinall is hopeful that the UFC will arrange a match between him and Jones. While Jones is open to the idea, his decision may depend on financial negotiations. Aspinall respects Jones' legacy but sees potential openings in his fighting style, making him confident about the matchup.
Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang face off in Saudi Arabia, both seeking to revive their championship hopes after recent losses to Joseph Parker. Wilder, known for his knockout power, has shown recent passivity, while Zhang is aggressive but tends to fade late in fights. The undercard features notable bouts including Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois and Dmitrii Bivol vs. Malik Zinad. Predictions are uncertain, hinging on which version of Wilder shows up. Expert pick leans towards Zhang via unanimous decision.
Zhilei Zhang weighed in 68.2 pounds heavier than Deontay Wilder ahead of their heavyweight fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both fighters are looking to bounce back from losses to Joseph Parker. Zhang weighed 282.8 pounds, while Wilder was 214.6 pounds. Despite the weight difference, Wilder has a 1-inch height advantage and will serve as team captain for Matchroom Boxing in the Frank Warren-Eddie Hearn 5 vs. 5 event. The winning promoter will earn $3 million.
The heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, with the main event scheduled for 5:50 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8. The fight can be watched on DAZN for $39.99. Ngannou, a former UFC champion, aims to prove himself as a formidable boxer, while Joshua sees this as an opportunity to continue his re-ascension in the heavyweight division. The fight card also includes other exciting matchups, and Joshua is currently favored to win.
Tyson Fury survives a knockdown in the third round to defeat Francis Ngannou by split decision in their world heavyweight clash. Fury maintains his unbeaten record and is now set to face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed world heavyweight title. Ngannou impresses in his first professional boxing match and expresses his desire to improve and come back stronger.
Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius face off in a high-stakes heavyweight fight, with Joshua eyeing a potential showdown with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. Helenius must pressure with discipline, unleash crisp one-two combinations, and increase his punch volume to have a chance at an upset victory. Joshua, on the other hand, needs to assert his power jab, use Helenius' aggression against him with counterpunches, and capitalize on his uppercut to secure a win.
Francis Ngannou will face Tyson Fury in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia on October 28. The fight, which has been talked about for over a year, seemed unlikely recently but Ngannou's manager confirmed the booking. Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, left the promotion earlier this year and signed a deal with the PFL that allows him the freedom to box. Both fighters are expected to do well financially, with Fury predicting Ngannou to make 10-50 times more money than UFC fighters.