A press conference has been scheduled on January 15 to reveal more details, with reports suggesting that Joshua will face Ngannou on Friday March 8 in Riyadh.

Joshua continued his quest to return to the top of the heavyweight division with a dominant five-round win over Otto Wallin on December 23 but expectations that he would next face Deontay Wilder evaporated when the American lost to Joseph Parker on the same card.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout last October, although the latter still won a split decision, and is now ranked in the WBC's top 10 of heavyweight contenders.

Speaking after his impressive win against Wallin, Joshua declared: "I'm down to fight anyone. Whenever and whoever."

Filip Hrgovic, the IBF mandatory challenger, and Zhilei Zhang were also being considered as potential opponents for Joshua's next fight.

Saudi Arabia will again stage a major heavyweight fight, just weeks after Fury takes on Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed world title fight on

February 17.