The heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou has been labelled ‘knockout chaos’ by the promotion, and power over ability may be the key.
Following his professional debut against Tyson Fury in October, the former UFC Champion has landed another huge opportunity in Saudi Arabia, this time against two-time heavyweight champion Joshua.
The fight – set for ten rounds – had importance added at the launch press conference when Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment, Turki Alalshikh, announced that he plans to pit the winner against whoever comes out on top of the undisputed fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on February 17.
It means that fans could finally see Joshua-Fury should it play out that way. Whilst filming a promotional feature, Joshua asked Ngannou what he thought of his countryman’s power.
“Did you respect Tyson Fury’s power?”
Ngannou didn’t hesitate to say yes.
“I respect everybody’s power. Everybody is a danger.”
Ngannou has previously said that Fury may have hit him the hardest across both MMA and boxing – high praise for the Brit who was once known more as a mover than a puncher.
That stats say that he has more on his hands with ‘AJ’, though. Joshua has an 88% knockout ratio to Fury’s 70%, and is coming off the back of a punishing victory over Otto Wallin, whose corner pulled him out in the fifth after a pummelling lead to bruises, cuts and a fractured nose.
The branding ‘KO Chaos’ is one half Ngannou too, who of course dropped Fury early in their ten-rounder and has a highlight reel of UFC finishes filled with one-shot stoppages.