Francis Ngannou nearly achieved the inconceivable in his final combat.
A heavyweight champion within the UFC, Ngannou made his skilled boxing debut in a non-title bout in opposition to Tyson Fury, the reigning WBC champion.
Ngannou not solely put Fury down within the third spherical however he was aggressive all through their 10 rounder and was solely defeated on break up choice.
Francis Ngannou will combat Anthony Joshua dwell on Sky Sports Box Office on Friday March 8
That was a shock to the boxing world. Ngannou hopes to spring one other shock when he fights Anthony Joshua on Friday March 8, dwell on Sky Sports Box Office.
Even although Joshua is a former unified WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion, former UFC fighter Dan Hardy believes it is a combat that Ngannou can win.
“I’m going with Ngannou genuinely,” Hardy advised Sky Sports.
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“I picked Fury within the final one. I felt Fury was going to have the ability to catch him fifth or sixth spherical as soon as he began to get drained. But this for me is a significantly better match up for Ngannou.
“I feel like AJ’s easier to hit, easier to rattle psychologically and I feel like because of the unknown commodity of Francis Ngannou there’s going to be a shock to the system.”
Joshua is devastating when he punches together. But Hardy believes Ngannou has capabilities Joshua will battle to comprise.
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“There’s an unquantifiable power about Ngannou and that’s concerning because he can punch through a decent guard. I feel like AJ’s going to feel punches coming through his guard and they’re going to surprise him a little bit,” Hardy, a former fighter and knowledgeable pundit, mentioned.
“Because Ngannou will let them go and try and really hurt him. But they’ve both got to respect one another’s power. If Ngannou gets tired, he gets over-extended, he leaves himself open, AJ’s going to pick him apart and it could look like a very easy night for him.
“AJ is aware of the way to land and ship a punch. He’s very exact. He’s very highly effective as we all know.”
But Ngannou will have taken plenty from his experience with Fury too.
“We haven’t got the shock issue from Ngannou now however now he is additionally bought the arrogance that he can do 10 rounds,” Hardy defined.
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He insists that Joshua will should be cautious, particularly due to Ngannou’s punch energy.
“He has to give Ngannou the respect; that he’s improved since the last fight and of course with the confidence that he can do 10 rounds,” Hardy mentioned.
“I expect to see a busier Francis Ngannou. I don’t know whether that’s a good thing necessarily because the busier he is, the easier he is to hit.
“Of course, AJ is a supremely gifted boxer. Very expert. Good fundamentals. Good fundamentals. So on paper he ought to be capable of choose Ngannou off and put on him down, maintain him at a distance and never over-extend himself.
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“But that’s also what Tyson should have done as well and it’s easier said than done.
“I do wonder if the arrogance of Ngannou goes to make AJ’s life a bit simpler. But on the similar time that confidence can undermine AJ’s confidence as effectively, particularly if he has a tough spherical or two.”
Watch Joshua vs Ngannou live on Sky Sports Box Office on Friday March 8
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