Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou •

Fair enough. Let's see how he does.

I'll be rooting for Joshua though, just for the sake of the sport's integrity. Nothing against Ngannou, but I don't like the idea of the HW division being taken over by skill-less walking tanks.

 

How has Joshua been holding the division hostage? He's one of the few keeping it alive and moving. It's cowards like Fury and Wilder that have been stagnating the division and sitting on belts they refuse to unify. Joshua's one of the good guys.

 

Yeah, an Ngannou win could dim some peoples view of boxing/boxers.

But that would be due to a lack of understanding of features unique to HWs and lack of appreciation of what an extraordinary athlete Ngannou is - aside from his original and primary combat style of choice (MMA).

Even between two dedicated HW boxers, where there is an obvious disparity in skill - anything can still happen when uncommon size, strength and power are involved.

Just imo, but crossover successes in divisions < HW are far less likely.

Given all that, I’m happy to root for Francis - his winning wouldn’t necessarily be a blight on boxing - at least aside from a casual’s view point.

 

If AJ wins I don’t think that will confirm that Ngannou is devoid of skill.

It’s still only his second pro fight.

Whatever Fury’s condition was, Francis nullified and exceeded Tyson on several, key H2H points of advantage that Fury usually enjoys.

It wasn’t as if Fury started out okay and then flagged - Francis was doing well from the start
and though he tried, Fury couldn’t nut him out.

Certainly Francis’ hand speed was a revelation - in hindsight, we assume that he was sandbagging in the lead up training clips.

It seems his extraordinary reach wasn’t prepared for either - if one can prepare and find a way to combat same.

Also, Francis was very mindful of his own stamina - an an unknown quantity, even for him, in his first pro outing.

By association, his output was well considered and limited - and, ironically, I thought the approach really worked for him in terms of it being “less is more”.

Load up and punch when the opportunities were there - otherwise, adequately defend yourself during the interim periods.

The type of efficient economy that reminds me of Joe Louis.

But AJ is a totally different kettle of fish - even as compared to the best version of Fury. AJ is a better skilled boxer imo - and he fights far more cleanly than Fury.

I’ve said it before, but without AJ being such a clean fighter and relying on his pure skill set, maybe Usyk wouldn’t have been allowed to shine as brightly as he did against AJ. So all credit to Joshua for keeping them open and clean fights.

So let’s see if Francis can’t apply and custom himself to a opponent of a somewhat different skill set.

Finally, I think AJ is taking Francis seriously enough - so that might be interpreted as a strong recommendation of the bonafide attributes that Ngannou upheld against Fury.

 

You are a disgrace for boxing group if you support Frank. You will support Joshua this week! I am telling you! You will! If Joshua would lose, boxing will die in HW. Fury destroyed everything. Joshua will have to rescue everybody's arse once again. Your undertestimating of casual influence is just arrogant and ignorant. This can influence next generations of future boxers if that Cameroon lab monster will win.

You remind me that people without children who support migration to Europe from middle East and Africa no matter what. You don't think about future of boxing in analogy.

I really can not believe my eyes what happening here. Hate on Joshua is the biggest in HW boxing history. Rather than support Joshua... You stab boxing into back. Are you a Judas? I am so disappointed..... So bad, so bad.

 

This is a good card, looking forward to Vargas-Ball.

 

Joshua has to go in a warm favourite but is no certainty. If Ngannou lands early, Joshua's self belief may desert him again and anything could happen then.

 

That was a good Clown post. Honking your horn but absolutely non convergent. And for your next trick…?

 

Hey Pug! Good to see you my friend!

 

Likewise BoB!

 

He's not the worst offender but he doesn't take risky fights. His last 4 have been Franklin, Helenius, Wallin and now Ngannou.

The HW division is full of cherry pickers and duckers. It got boring years ago.

 

I already watch both
You don't care about boxing reputation

You where ecstatic when Fury was shown up.
Just another Aj fanboy

 

Lol

 

I suppose one way to look at it is that the HWs might need a bit of fresh comp. to lift their game.

Of course, Francis got his foot in the door due to his achievements in MMA and the obvious appeal of the cross over.

But with the opportunity in hand . he stepped up and performed as he did.

Less than 5 months later, in his second pro bout, we have him fighting again and against AJ, no less - who Fury, for all his years in the game, still hasn’t managed to cross paths with.

And, whatever the reason, Fury himself couldn’t manage to get back in the ring per original schedule to fight Usyk. - and many people have clearly stated they won’t believe that fight happens until Fury actually gets into the ring.

So, with or without Francis, all in all, that’s a dim view for the HW Division and its self proclaimed top dog anyway.

Now, as a somewhat more known quantity, Francis represents a more known risk for AJ than he did for Fury who, instead of fighting Usyk, elected to fight a guy he thought was a soft touch.

So, that at least equates to more credit for AJ engaging Francis than what Fury deserved when he fought Ngannou.

If the situation had been reversed, say IF Ngannou had performed so well against AJ in his first pro fight, thereby “informing” Fury of the true perils associated with Francis. - I could imagine Fury maligning Joshua for doing it so tough while at the same time, dismissing any prospect of Fury himself ever facing such a “rank amateur”.

 

Yeah, and at least AJ actually fought Usyk and ultimately gave him two, very clean fights. Credit to him for that.