Former UFC 265-pound champion Francis Ngannou, who is now a Top 10 contender in the WBC rankings, will make his return to the “sweet science” when he collides with former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this March in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, who made over $10 million for his breakout performance against Tyson Fury last year in Riyadh, is expected to approach the $20 million mark for his bout against “AJ” according to Forbes, working from a report from Sports Business Journal.
Joshua is expected to make double that figure.
The exorbitant payouts highlight the purse disparity between the top fights in UFC versus the top fights in boxing. Ngannou, 37, had long campaigned for better pay, as well as more contractual freedom, but was continuously stonewalled by promotion CEO Dana White.
In the days following his Fury loss, “The Predator” shared some of his newfound wealth with longtime trainer Eric Nicksick. It would stand to reason that Ngannou will likely bring in the same team he employed for “The Gypsy King” when he returns to Riyadh in March.
Expect more details to be finalized in the coming weeks.