'I'm a man who will stand in front of him and give him hell,' MMA star Francis Ngannou wants to knock out Joshua

Anthony Joshua contre Francis Ngannou : un choc très attendu MAXPPP – Zac Goodwin

From the cage to the ring, Cameroonian Francis Ngannou is now considered a formidable fighter. He can make an impression this Friday in Saudi Arabia.   

Four months after toppling Tyson Fury, MMA star Francis Ngannou continues his path in boxing and puts on the gloves to challenge another heavyweight of the rings, the British Anthony Joshua, Friday in Saudi Arabia .

The 37-year-old Cameroonian shocked the world of combat sports for his boxing debut on October 29 by sending Tyson Fury, WBC heavyweight champion and huge favorite, to the mat in the third round and knocking out the "Gipsy King" like never before.

After Fury, Joshua 

The – controversial – decision of the judges ultimately went in favor of Fury but the "Predator" had almost signed one of the greatest exploits in the history of boxing. Although he did not achieve victory, Ngannou in any case left Riyadh with all the esteem of the boxing world, honoring his reputation as a formidable puncher.

After Fury, it was Anthony Joshua, former holder of the WBA, IBF and WBO titles in the category, who accepted the Ngannou challenge and the lucrative deal that comes with it. Joshua remains on a convincing stoppage victory against Swede Otto Wallin in December, his third victory of 2023 after two defeats against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, the man who made him the best in the world. #39;had lost his belts.

I think if I succeed in hitting my opponent, I will KO him

"Friday is going to be crazy so I can't wait to show my technical skills and fight this person who thinks he can knock me out", Joshua said to Ngannou. "I think I can knock him out. Absolutely. I'd love to knock him out and show what I'm worth."

"He must be ready to take the blows that come his way because I am a man who will stand before him and make him experience life&# 39;hell", warned the Brit "Of course I can knock Joshua out", Ngannou replied. "I think if I manage to hit my opponent, I will knock him out. The question is how to hit. It's the hardest thing." "But I believe in my determination, in my dedication. I believe in working hard to get what I want." 

With this second foray into the ring, Ngannou continues his path in boxing, the discipline that made him dream before he devoted himself to mixed martial arts.

Started from nothing to reach the top

Starting from nothing to reach the heights of the UFC, the most prestigious MMA league in the world, the Cameroonian, now in the competing PFL league, now hopes to continue his two careers in parallel. "That was always the plan. After leaving the UFC, we supported Francis in his desire to do boxing. It was very important to him and it was his priority, explains Pete Murray, boss of the PFL.

Everyone underestimated Francis, including Tyson Fury

"That played a big role in his signing with us, offering him this flexibility in addition to allowing him to be competitive in MMA. " For his first boxing match, "everyone underestimated Francis, including Tyson Fury", he continues. "Now for his second fight, I don't think AJ underestimates Francis as much as Tyson does. I am confident that Francis will show AJ even more technical and physical abilities than against Tyson. I think Francis will continue to shock the world, not just in the cages but in the ring as well."

Among the ringside observers, the two men will be able to see Tyson Fury, who will fight Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight title on May 18. The winner will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, who held every major belt between 1999 and 2000.