MMA fan and former boxing cruiserweight world champion, Tony Bellew, has talked down Francis Ngannou’s reported entry into the sport.
The UFC Heavyweight Champion recently turned down a deal with the company to pursue other avenues, and it’s widely expected that he will land in a boxing ring soon.
Ngannou is known for his raw power and impressive physical attributes, and there’s no doubt a crossover fight with one of the top dogs in the heavyweight division would draw a crowd.
Bellew, though, thinks it would be a waste of time for the former UFC champ. He told JOE that he has no chance against the best.
“He’s a big puncher with 4oz gloves on, mate, but trust me we’d all be absolute killer punchers with 4oz gloves on. What I will say is he’s an extremely powerful man. He’s very powerful, but, in terms of a boxing match, absolutely no chance at all.
No chance whatsoever in a boxing match, and I mean that. He’ll get hurt.
As for his specific level, Bellew went on to name Kamil Sokolowski (11-27-3, 4 KOs) as a man who might give Ngannou trouble. The Polish fighter has lost four of his last five, and has been regularly fed to British prospects over the years including Solomon Dacres, Frazer Clarke, and Nathan Gorman.
If he was to turn professional and put in straight away with someone like, maybe a Central Area champion to just learn the ropes, a couple of journeymen, he would learn quite well. I’m not so sure you could put Francis Ngannou in with someone like Sokolowski right now, because he might lose.”
“Any decent heavyweight in the world right now would beat him. Don’t get me wrong, he’d absolutely smash anyone who got in a cage with him.”
With Ngannou looking at Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, or Anthony Joshua, it’s safe to say that Bellew will be confident of the outcome given this assessment.