Heavyweight title contender, Joe Joyce, has drawn similarities between former UFC superstar, Francis Ngannou, and a previous heavyweight opponent, after sparring the Cameroonian in the past.
It was recently revealed that Ngannou will make his boxing debut against current WBC champion, Tyson Fury, in a crossover clash in Saudi Arabia this October.
The ex-UFC champion left the MMA franchise at the beginning of the year, making his intentions of entering the boxing ring clear.
In an interview with Boxing News, Joyce explained that Ngannou was brought in for sparring back in 2020, as preparation for ‘The Juggernaut’s British title clash with Daniel Dubois and revealed their power to be similar.
“I’ve shared the ring with Fury and Ngannou so it’ll be an interesting fight if I manage to watch it. I’ve got a list of fights that I was supposed to watch and I’d like to watch, but I haven’t watched yet. I’m a do-er not a watcher.”
“Ngannou hits hard, [I sparred him] because I was fighting [Daniel] Dubois, he is about the same height and power.
I had to get away from those power shots because he hits hard and he is a unit. Fury needs to be switched on, he should wipe the floor with him but if he switches off for a split-second, he could get nailed.”
Joyce went on to upset the odds and defeat Dubois via tenth-round knockout, fracturing the eye-socket of his young rival.
Ngannou will be hoping that he can emulate the achievements of his former sparring partner and prove the bookies wrong, as he heads into his contest against Fury as a huge underdog on October 28th.