Francis Ngannou has tasted power on both sides of combat sports – the four ounce gloves in MMA and ten in boxing.
The 37-year-old scored 12 knockout victories in his UFC campaign, winning 17 overall and losing three. He recently made the switch to boxing, entering the ring a massive underdog against undefeated heavyweight world champion, Tyson Fury.
Ngannou proved he was to be taken seriously by knocking Fury down in the third round before fighting the full distance impressively. The split decision loss for the debutant was still a moral victory given most had predicted he would be finished early by the 277lbs Brit.
Now having showcased power in both MMA and boxing, Ngannou was recently asked on The Last Stand if he was the hardest hitter in all combat sports.
His answer? ‘Definitely.’
The Cameroon-born combat star’s power featured heavily in the promotion, with those involved highlighting that his world-record breaking punch could put Fury’s lights out.
As for Fury, Ngannou said that he threw the hardest shots he’d felt in both the ring and octagon.
“Fury punches pretty good. I ate some of his shots – he punches very strong. And he was with 10oz gloves, because MMA fights are 4oz gloves. In boxing it’s 10oz. I think, so far, he is the top [hard hitter.]”
A return to MMA under the Professional Fighters League banner is likely next, but Ngannou is fully expected to box again in the future. In fact, he says the one fight he wants above all others is a rematch with Fury.