Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou •

I really wonder what the excuses will be if AJ looks bad too. The mental gymnastics after that Fury fight are hilarious.

 

Bare in mind boxing is primarily a striking sport, sport.

MMA is a bit different. One could say it's no surprise an MMA fighter's face is rather non-peculiar after many contests. One could also say that Ngannou's schnoz is going to blend in, akin to having no nose after the Joshua contest.

 

Nice matchup. I can see them having a few heavy exchanges on the inside. Ngannou again capitalizing on counterpunches.

Joshua could win on points. But im betting on him getting dropped at least twice; most likely getting sparked out.

 

Ngannou is the definition of a fighting man, the guy is tough as nails and in a proper fight he would annihilate any of these boxers.

 

I think Naganou wins AJ fight, infighting, preassure, fast pace - Joshua cant handle it.

EDIT:

I think Naganou did Sonny Liston, no way he can be thrown around that easy.

 

There's plenty of hyperbole to disagree with here... But let's just jump to your summary.

In a way they both do - if Ngannou loses, he's 0-2, and that might be the end of the big paydays in boxing... Unless it's controversial again.

The obvious way to fight someone with a very limited gas tank (which Ngannou has, even compared to AJ) is to keep it tight and wear them down, then up the pressure later... Will it work? We'll see.

Joshua has never been KO'd... Dazed by a good, but possibly lucky, temple shot from Ruiz (who had far faster hands than Francis) and quit - but he's not been KO'd in the ring.

Francis does appear to have a great chin, but let's keep things factual.

If Ngannou wins, it'll be a fairly early KO... The longer it goes, the more likely a Joshua UD or KO becomes.

Realistically, I think Joshua wins easily - unlike Fury he won't come in hideously unfit and underprepared... And unlike Fury, he's not really overrated by most - in terms of narrative, the assumption that Fury is the top fighter for this era makes his struggle with Ngannou look more significant than it probably is, when in truth he might not even be second (but we'll probably never know because he won't fight Joshua and might not fight Usyk either).

 

• Naganou has no preassure, he aint fighting on his home turf in his sport, it is expected of him to lose, and money is there, he has nothing to prove in boxing. Joshua has all the pressure, bad opponets, outclassed by Usyk twice, beaten by Ruiz, rebuilding for 3+ years. Also comparisons to Fury, and the lack of mental stability is noticable, especially after second Usyk fight.
• Ofcourse, that is why it is easy to speculate strategy - Naganou will go all out - chances of Joshua trying to be Klitcko here or Usyk are 0, he will have to face naganou early preassure - will he survive it? I dont think so. You have high hopes, just like you did with Wilder Parker. How did that turn around? I called that Parker will demolish Wilder, hell I even made money off it. I was right then, why wouldnt I be right now?
• He was on the floor, and Usyk first fight was prematurely stopped to prevent Joshua being KO-ed - this against non-power fighter. Semi power fighter had him rolling on the floor. What will heavy-power fighter like Naganou do?
• [url]https://www.youtube.com/shorts/O2RKgY77_D0[/url]
  
• Francis has not only champion mentality, he has a background he knows defeat, he knows real risk - there is no real risk in boxing, in UFC you can be best boxer and power puncher, 1 hit to the calf and you go down. Naganou is in terms of fighting (not boxing) 10x fighter that Joshua is.
• I agree, 2-3 rounds max. I give 90% ouf Naganou 2 round KO, the rest can be UD for Joshua. I just dont see AJ having the power or the grit to go close in for a brawl.

 

Given AJ is coming to jab and fight cautious it requires Francis closing to get inside and clinch him. Fury gave Francis all the opportunity to show he is the clinchmaster. AJ is going to land his power before Francis lands his but Francis with that steel steroid head will take the shots with ease unlike AJ.

Francis is going to war and prove that born and bred fighters demolish a bodybuilding bum like AJ all day everyday

 

Didn't read it all but in that face off ngannu said he actively refused to fight twelve rounds so we can assume he did the same with fury.

I wonder if the rematch would be 12 rounds and it could make a big difference.

That suggests he has doubts about his stamina over twelve rounds.

Secondly if Joshua didn't quit he would have been knocked out. You can't be knocked out of you swollow it first.

Third ngannu has no need to pressure he has deceptively long arms and can just sit back and counter. Fury got caught cus his reach is deceptive.

Fourth should be called what it is fighting a 0 and 1 boxer rather than fighting say Zhang, Parker or shot old wilder who they are still avoiding TO THIS DAY hahaha.

Sorry couldn't resist.

 

In fairness though, he's already beaten Zhang and Parker (not that I'd be against him fighting either again) and Wilder is a chicken livered, chicken legged fraud who ran from Joshua throughout their primes - he doesn't deserve that cashcow cash out for losing a fight he'd have always lost.

Francis isn't the best fight available, but at least it generates some interest in the sport.

 

Beat wallin in the amateurs though right was happy to fight him?

Going off your Zhang statement.

Nah mate Joshua would never fight wilder ever.

There was only one ducking and anyone sane knows this.

Even if he was 50.

"You train and fight him it's harder than it looks" lol

Thinks fury is shot as you could hear crickets when he could have fought him twice last year.

Tbf calling wilder a coward is a bit much.

After all he got absolutely hammered by fury and kept going didn't spit his gum shield out or swallow it.

Kept getting up for more.

Also although a sore loser he didn't go grab the WBC title, launch it out of the ring and then bully Bob arum.

Compare this to getting slapped about by a Fatman, spitting out your gum shield and then quitting.

Then losing again and launching the other blokes titles out of the ring.

Hilarious.

 

I hope you're right.
He has a better chin and enough power to KO AJ, that much I know.

 

I am very excited about this match up as Francis is a true freak of nature and anything can happen but my instincts tell me we are seeing a Bowe - Golata -Lewis -Golota repeat play out ...

Fury was at the height of his arrogance and mass appeal going into the Ngannou fight ... from believing his own hype about being the GOAT to letting himself get terribly out of shape to the sneer in his eyes during his slow dance walk to the ring he seem to be projecting the world is mine and I'll make them endure it all ... he gave Ngannou as little concern as a sparring partner for all the obvious reasons and actually started the fight throwing ( for him) hard to try and end it early ... the rest is history as Francis proved to be fearless, exceptionally strong, in superb condition, had a sense of ten round pace , dropped Fury legitimately and gave a very strong overall account ... Fury lacked the condition to go balls to the wall , the strength to abuse him like a string bean Wilder and the power to hurt him. While I believe Fury deserved the decision it was embarrassing ...

Francis is now a commodity , a physical freak and a fanatic .. he truly believes he can beat anyone ... that said , enter Anthony Joshua, a better, more confident version since before the Ruiz fights ... Joshua is a very skilled fighter, puts combinations together well, is fast , very experienced and most importantly a gigantic puncher, multiple levels above Fury. He saw Francis perform , sees the arrogance and confidence radiating from him, knows he will be gunning for his own questionable chin so he will be prepared for the performance of his career ... The vastly experienced, prepared Joshua should be able to blast Nhannou out early .. the only way he won't is if on top of it all Francis has an incredible chin and manages to land on Joshua who does not ...

It will be interesting while it lasts for sure and anything can happen ...

 

Joshua wins by KO but 60/40 fight.

 

Ngannou didn`t fight at a fast pace v Fury and has stated he will sit back v AJ and wait for an opening in the Dazn face off, this will be a cagey fight like AJ`s rematch v Ruiz, Francis is slower than AJ and I expect him to lose on points.