Eddie Hearn has confirmed Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will lock horns in Saudi Arabia later this year. 

MMA legend Ngannou, 37, took WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury the distance in his pro boxing debut in October. 

He lost the 10-round bout via split decision but fans and pundits alike claimed the Cameroon heavy-hitter deserved to have his hand raised in victory. 

And he will now get a chance to prove his prowess in the sweet science once again against two-time unified world champ AJ, who destroyed Otto Wallin in Riyadh last month. 

Matchroom Boxing supremo Hearn said on X: "Tonight we confirm it's a done deal! Joshua and Ngannou collide on a huge night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"Press conference [on] January 15 in London with full details dropping soon."

Joshua, 34, was widely expected to face Deontay Wilder next but that proposed bout fell apart when the American lost to Joseph Parker before AJ dished out a beating to Wallin. 

The Day of Reckoning card featuring the star heavyweights on December 23 had been set up to pave the way for a much talked about showdown between two of the biggest punchers in the division. 

But Joshua is now set to trade blows with Ngannou before a potential collision with Fury or Oleksandr Uysk, who holds the IBF, WBO and WBA Super world titles.

The collision between unbeaten duo Fury and Uysk, who will battle it out to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight king, is due to take place in Riyadh on February 17.