ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU - FIGHT PREDICTIONS FROM BOXING & MMA’S BIGGEST NAMES

All eyes will be on Saudi Arabia this weekend as Anthony Joshua takes on Francis Ngannou in one of the biggest crossover fights in history.

Fresh off the back of an emphatic victory over Otto Wallin, former two-time world champ Joshua goes into the fight as the big favourite but as he showed against Tyson Fury on his professional boxing debut, Francis Ngannou is certainly a man who cannot be written off inside of that squared circle.

We’ve spoken to some of the biggest names in combat sports to get their prediction on how they see the fight going.

Joe Joyce (Olympic silver medalist & heavyweight contender): “I think it’s a 50/50 fight and I am so excited to see it.”

Darren Barker (Former middleweight world champion): “I think Ngannou gets stopped on his feet. He showed an incredible chin and I was impressed with that but AJ punches harder. He is the bigger one punch harder hitter between him and Fury.”

Robert Garcia (Former trainer of Anthony Joshua): “Anthony Joshua is always in shape, he is a very dedicated fighter and I think he will knock Francis Ngannou out.”

Dewey Cooper (Francis Ngannou’s trainer): “You’ve got two big and strong power punchers. Joshua is an Olympic gold medalist, great boxer and a great puncher. Francis, a great puncher, it’s going to be a KO.”

Peter Fury (Legendary boxing trainer): “I am interested to see if Ngannou can really take real punches. He’s a big tough unit so he seems like he can but you never know.”

Michael Venom Page (UFC fighter): “It’s a very difficult one because we have only just seen what Francis Ngannou can do - although he seemed very comfortable against Fury, it might be the complete opposite against Joshua.”

Adam Smith (Boxing journalist and broadcaster): “It’s an odd situation but you’ve got to take him [Ngannou] very seriously. Should Joshua win? Of course he should but if Ngannou lands then you don’t know.”

Zhilei Zhang (Heavyweight contender): “In terms of boxing skill and boxing experience, I think Joshua is definitely on the upland however, Ngannou has the power and has the chin.”

Kalle Sauerland (Boxing promoter): “The first two or three rounds are super interesting but then I think Joshua just takes over. BUT, in those first two or three rounds, do not blink.” 

Fabio Wardley (British & Commonwealth heavyweight champion): “He’s [Joshua] definitely got the power to do it [knock Ngannou out] and I think if the opportunity arises then he will take advantage of it but Ngannou is a very tough man.”

Tony Bellew (Former cruiserweight world champion): “He [Ngannou] is singlehandedly the baddest man on the planet because nobody in the whole world is fighting with that man in a dark alley and coming out winning. In a boxing ring though, he is a totally different kind of breed.”

Eddie Hearn (Anthony Joshua’s promoter): “He is very dangerous in this fight because he’s going to let his hands go, when AJ throws, he’s going to walk him down but he’s going to get hit very hard on the chin so let’s see what Ngannou’s chin is like when he gets hit properly and that WILL happen on Friday night.”

Johnny Nelson (Former cruiserweight world champion): “AJ just has to box. He’s a former two-time world champion. If he boxes, that should be enough. If he gets involved in a tear up then you’re giving a man a chance that shouldn’t have one.”

Gareth A. Davies (Boxing journalist): “He [Ngannou] could easily be a banana skin but I think that Joshua has the wherewithal to deal with it.”

Anthony Joshua (Former two-time world champion): “He’s done a good 10 rounds with Tyson Fury but I think it’ll be different doing 10 rounds with me.”

Francis Ngannou (Former UFC heavyweight world champion): “I am expecting a victory. I think this a higher level of competition [than Tyson Fury].” 

Tyson Fury: (Lineal and WBC Heavyweight world champion"): “I am expecting AJ to win for sure. He’s the boxer and former two-time world champion.”

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