Ngannou in the 1930s heavyweight scene

Francis, trained like some of the boxers of the time and transported via the machine... well, he would have had a solid advantage in training, supplementation, nutrition, post-workout recovery, understanding his opponent down to the last detail, etc., etc. That wouldn't be fair. Besides, current MMA, in which Francis is a champion, often resembles boxing in the 1930s more than it does today. Francis would have been an even better matchup with John Sullivan.

Take Tony Galento... he had great skill and a great character. He was also massive and very, very strong, but... next to Francis, he would remind you of someone nicknamed Hubba-Bubba. Did Tony have technique? mobility? better fundamentals? Unfortunately, no... let's not look at him with sentimentalism. Ngannou would have been a monster. I don't think he would have beaten Louis, Schmellig, Charles, Walcott... but he would have been a threat to them, a threat. Carnera, Baer, and Galento would have been too limited to beat him. Conn, Lewis, Pastor, and Farr didn't have the strength or size to stop someone of Ngannou's training and size.

I know boxing isn't MMA, it's not kickboxing, but I remember a fight between the most primitive K-1 fighter, like Bobb Sapp, and the most advanced K-1 fighter, like Ernesto Hoost. True technical power is fearless. I'm sorry, but Francis would have been a monster, a monster.

 

An Important thing to remember here is Ngannou in MMA is fighting what equals 5-8 rounders in boxing(depending if he held the title). And as a HW hes used to fighting guys who are cooked after what is 2 or 3 rounds in boxing.

 

Yes, there are some shared features as far as tapping one’s stamina goes but it’s hard to exactly and fully equivocate the rounds given the different sorting combat disciplines involved.

Certainly, I think Ngannou burned some extra extra energy than he might normally would have by way of unaccustomed nerves due to entering into and competing in a somewhat different arena for combat.

Then again, due to his own strength and size he robbed Fury of the periodic rest periods that Tyson himself might’ve enjoyed otherwise.

 

He might not reach those guys. Someone like Tony Galento might knock out the body beautiful on his (attempted) way up.

 

At best. Maybe. He has power so in the early 30's if he catches Sharkey on an off night, its possible. But he wouldn't hold it for long.

 

Against Fury, Ngannou was blowing a bit by round three and didn't seem to have much wind in him after he scored the KD. His mouth was agape for long periods of the fight thereafter, if I recall.

Fortunately, Fury by that point was strolling through his performances and not pushing the envelope (Instead, doing just enough to survive).

Fair play to Ngannou though, for sticking with it and leaving his mark.

 

Does Ngannou still get to eat all the PEDs in the world?

 

I'm really not a fan of Carnera but the guy did have endless stamina, which enabled him to stick with it against some of the superior practitioners of the day and take decisions.

 

I think he knocks some blocks off. Nobody in that time is going to be able to slug it out, at least not early. If I were a coach I'd have my man give away the first six playing defense as far as possible, and waiting for Ngannou's giant muscles to run his batteries flat. When he's gassed, he would be much easier to handle. Pursuing a regular strategy against him would mean doom for the guys of that era imho.

 

He has 2 professional fights and has worse defense and infighting abilities than Buddy Baer. Nngannou is also slow. At best he's a fringe contender. He'd be the prime example of giants getting toppled by smaller, faster, more defensive heavyweights but the usual suspects are zipping down the pants of a 37 year old mma stiff

 

How did Fury's team ever accept that fight? If I had to pick a clownshow fight that might actually pose an issue to Fury, it would be something like this. "Let's start with a guy who fully negates Fury's strength, weight, and clinch ability advantages". Fury basically doesn't train, then shows up to fight a guy who negates everything Fury is used to having.

By the way, I do think Fury won. He struggled at first but eventually he warms up and starts sweeping rounds. You can tell how bad his lack of training was when he starts trying to grab and wrestle with Ngannou -- like that wouldn't have been drilled into him in a serious camp? You don't grapple with a ****ing UFC champ. Come on now. You force him to box.