Joe Joyce vs Ngannou

If I managed Joyce, I wouldn't let him near any puncher because the man needs his health. If he insisted, Ngannou would be a relatively safe, cash fight.

Once Joe is getting in the ring with somebody against whom he can jab, the forum will swing opinions again.

That being said, Joe is something of a steroid Kownacki, and I wouldn't be eager to put him out there with anybody cracking hard, because his fights are always damaging to his health, as in he is not a fast finisher, or a good defensive fighter.

 

"Ngannou would be a relatively safe, cash fight."

I can't see this aging well. Hopefully it happens. 40+, 287 lbs big bang isn't the quickest and he couldn't miss. Ngannou was landing bombs on Joyce in sparring.

"against whom he can jab"

Can he if Ngannou switches stances on him?

"Joe is something of a steroid Kownacki"

Right and look how shot Kownacki quickly became after he started his losing streak. Joyce is ultra-vulnerable rn and a perfect cherrypick for Ngannou imo.

 

Unlike many others here, I honestly think Ngannou can change the HW landcape if he wants to continue, but he is already ''old''. I think he easily beats a guy like Hrgovic who's been more than lackluster recently. Could probably KO a guy like AJ who's confidence is shattered. Could actually make a great fight with Wilder (I'm not even sure Wilder has more boxing skills than Ngannou but I'm sure it would be a great fight to watch). Could probably drop and beat Joyce too. I'd like to see him vs Zang.

I would also favor him over guys like Makhmudov and Sanchez who are pretty green on the big stage, and I think that's what great, we just don't know.

 

a) Slow feet, fast hands, very good timing and boxing lifetime fighting as a counterpuncher.

Joyce is relatively easy to hit. It does not mean every banger will be able to find him with those near-perfect shots rooted in educated set-ups, honed counterpunching, and dedication to accuracy. The one you don't see coming hurt the most.

b) Not inherently, no. Jab is still a tool against a southpaw albeit a less reliable and necessarily aided by proper hand-fighting. Ngannou switch-hitting does suddenly make him equal to a lifelong southpaw. There are levels to the game, and especially to such demanding aspect of it.

Could happen, admittedly. Wouldn't bet on it, especially since Joyce was having a camp dedicated to southpaw two times in a row.

c) Right. Probably why I mentioned being worried about his health numerous times. We will see—ultimately it's still something of an individual matter.

 

Does Zhang have fast hands? They look fast compared to Joyce's sure but so would Ngannou's. Ngannou isn't green either; he's got 14-15 years striking experience, a mix of boxing and MMA and he was overwhelmingly a puncher in his MMA career.

Dubois was finding Joyce with a lot of regularity; a much younger, fresher and more confident Joyce to boot. Had Dubois (who'd never had a serious pro fight) not quit in 10 he would have likely won a Queensbury A-side decision. Ngannou was finding Joyce in sparring by his own admission, Sam Jones said it was a "war".

Joyce showed no ability to fight a southpaw after his 2nd camp in a row, he got blown out even easier in the rematch. While Ngannou isn't a natural southpaw like Zhang I can still see it causing Joyce problems. At the very minimum it gives Joyce something else to think/worry about and we know how Joyce is with thinking.

I agree there are levels to the game and Ngannou showed he was a high level boxer over 10 rounds against the No.1 heavyweight. Even prior to the two Zhang beatdowns, had Joyce ever performed as impressively? Most people thought Parker lost to Chisora, yet Joyce got enormous credit for stopping Parker late in a somewhat competitive fight.