In a grand event at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the world of boxing witnessed a night filled with drama, skill, and unexpected turns. The event, meticulously orchestrated by promoters Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, was headlined by a monumental clash broadcast over DAZN PPV.
Olympic Gold Medalist and former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony “AJ” Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) delivered a stunning performance, securing a knockout victory over MMA world champion “The Predator” Francis Ngannou (0-2, 0 KOs) in a gripping two-round battle for the vacant WBA Featherweight title.
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The evening’s co-feature saw 2012 Olympian and WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) face off against former WBO World Champion Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) in a heavyweight showdown. In a closely contested match that went the distance, Parker emerged victorious by a majority decision, underscoring the depth of talent and competition in the heavyweight division.
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The undercard was equally thrilling, featuring a showdown for the vacant WBA World Super Welterweight title. Israil “The Dream” Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) showcased his speed and power against Magomed “Black Lion” Kurbanov (25-1, 13 KOs), stopping him in the fifth round and capturing the title.
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The evening also saw a highly anticipated match between former WBC Super Featherweight and current WBC World Featherweight Champion Rey Vargas (36-1-1, 22 KOs) and WBC Silver Champion Nick “Wrecking” Ball (19-0-1, 11 KOs). After twelve rounds of intense competition, the bout concluded in a split decision draw, with both fighters demonstrating why they are among the best in their division.
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In another standout fight, Mark “Thunder” Chamberlain (15-0, 11 KOs) faced EBU Champion Gavin Gwynne (17-3-1, 5 KOs) in a match announced for the vacant WBA International Lightweight title. Chamberlain's power was too much for Gwynne, leading to a stoppage in the second round and highlighting Chamberlain's potential in the lightweight division.
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Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing