Ngannou to Face Joshua in Heavyweight Showdown
After nearly shocking the entire world by dropping lineal and WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (some argue he shocked the world anyway) last October, former UFC great Francis Ngannou will now be facing former WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight kingpin Anthony Joshua, reportedly this March in Saudi Arabia. Although the exact day hasn’t been given, there’s no arguing that Joshua and Ngannou will indeed be fighting each other next. “Tonight,” Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn stated on Twitter Friday, “we confirm it’s a Done Deal! @anthonyjoshua v @francis_ngannou collide on a huge night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – press conference Jan 15 in London with full details dropping soon!
Joshua has been riding high after completely dominating and stopping dangerous contender Otto Wallin a few weeks back. With current titlists Usyk and Fury set to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship, and with a newly defeated Deontay Wilder looking nowhere near his best, Ngannou offers the Londoner a big money, high profile fight against a heavy puncher. Indeed, there should be no down side to this for Joshua, unless of course he makes the mistake of underestimating the talented Ngannou, as many argue Fury did several months back.
Ngannou's Chance to Prove Himself in Boxing
For Ngannou, this upcoming fight against Joshua is more than just an opportunity to solidify his near victory over Fury. A win over Joshua would be monumental, completely changing the landscape of combat sports and giving Ngannou a shot at a world title.
Typically, former mixed martial artists struggle in the boxing ring. However, Ngannou proved to be an exception when he faced Fury, showcasing impressive footwork and ring intelligence against one of the best boxers in the world.
But styles make fights, and Joshua's style might pose a challenge for Ngannou. After his loss to Ruiz in 2019, Joshua made adjustments in his fighting style, opting for a more elusive approach rather than a slugfest. There are suggestions that Joshua might employ the same strategy against Ngannou, especially considering the latter's powerful punches. Nonetheless, Joshua is a heavyweight with heavy hands himself, making it a risky proposition to trade blows with Ngannou.
It's no surprise that Joshua is expected to enter the ring as the favorite. However, being the favorite doesn't guarantee victory.
