Francis Ngannou is ready to throw down with Anthony Joshua, riding high on the adrenaline rush from his professional boxing introduction against Tyson Fury. Despite taking a split decision loss, Ngannou’s performance, notably his thunderous left hook that sent Fury to the mat, has him walking tall into this bout.
Ngannou, the former king of the UFC heavyweight class, is now stepping into the ring with Joshua, armed with lessons from his past showdown and relentless training sessions. “I’ve got my eyes peeled for any opening, ready to unleash at a moment’s notice,” he declared, determined to leave no path unexplored in his quest for victory.
Despite the chatter leaning towards a Joshua win setting up a colossal clash with Fury, Ngannou isn’t just here to play a part in someone else’s story. He’s on a lightning-fast mission to etch his name in the boxing annals, fresh off his dominance in the MMA world.
Ngannou’s tale is one of sheer grit. From the grueling work in a sand mine to dodging starvation and homelessness, this chapter against Joshua is but another hurdle in his extraordinary journey from rags to riches. “Life’s thrown its worst at me, but here I stand, ready to battle,” Ngannou reflected on his path, marked by a spirit indomitable.
Joshua, on his part, isn’t taking the less seasoned boxer lightly. “He’s not new to boxing; it’s been his dream. I’m diving deep into preparation, leaving no stone unturned,” Joshua remarked, acknowledging Ngannou’s raw power and boxing aspirations that once took him from Cameroon’s sand mines to the global MMA stage.
As Ngannou returns to Riyadh, this time to lock horns with Joshua, the stakes are monumental. “Landing that knockout blow, that’s the golden ticket,” Ngannou mused, aware of the monumental task of breaching Joshua’s defenses. Joshua, holding a string of victories and eyeing a resurgence, knows too well the devastation Ngannou can wreak. “I’m bracing for an inferno come Friday, ready to dispatch Ngannou with a statement,” Joshua countered, his sights set on a knockout.
Weights:
Anthony Joshua 252.4 vs. Francis Ngannou 272.6
Zhilei Zhang 291.6 vs. Joseph Parker 247.6
Rey Vargas 125 vs. Nick Ball 126
Israil Madrimov 153.6 vs. Magomed Kurbanov 153.6
Mark Chamberlain 134.6 vs. Gavin Gwynne 134.6
Jack McGann 153.4 vs. Louis Greene 153.2
Justis Huni 243.2 vs. Kevin Lerena 232.4
Roman Fury 224 vs. Martin Svarc 225.6
Ziyad Almaayouf 144.4 vs. Christian Lopez Flores 142
Andrii Novytskyi 239.4 vs. Juan Torres 255.6
Who do you reckon will emerge victorious in this clash of titans? Share your thoughts and let’s see if the underdog can turn the tide or if Joshua will reinforce his boxing supremacy.
