Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua seems to be up against all odds when he faces Francis Ngannou next week on March 8th and has acknowledged as such during a Face Off episode of DAZN which featured the two fighters directly discussing with each other. While Joshua is not only pressured to win because of Fury’s disappointing performance against Ngannou, he faces further pressure given his credentials as a former world champion, as well as Ngannou’s own inexperience within the sport of boxing.
Francis Ngannou (0-1, 0 KO’s) is currently the only boxer known to have entered the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings with just one fight―a loss―on his record, but is still regarded as a huge threat to Anthony Joshua’s (27-3, 24 KO’s) ambitions to become a three-time world champion with the winner between the two heavyweights supposedly set to face the undisputed winner between Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KO’s) and Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KO’s).
Following Ngannou’s performance against Tyson Fury on October 28th, the Cameroonian fighter has truly emerged as the “dark horse” of the heavyweight division of boxing, and despite Joshua’s pedigree, the British heavyweight acknowledged Ngannou as his toughest test yet.
“It’s the biggest challenge of my life.” Joshua said, directly contradicting earlier-made statements when he referred to the Fury-Ngannou fight as a gimmick.
Ngannou, however, did not appear to regard his upcoming bout to the same degree as Joshua.
“It’s a good challenge,” Ngannou responded when asked the same question.
“I’ve always loved boxing growing up. [I] didn’t have those opportunities, since I grew up in Africa, and even when I came to Europe I always wanted to stick to boxing but I didn’t have any opportunity.
“The opportunity came around and for me it was the opportunity to potentially make my way up, and then maybe at some point crossover [to boxing].“
Despite Joshua’s earlier claims of Fury fighting Ngannou being “gimmicky”, the British heavyweight now appears to have shifted his opinion and mentality in regards to his future Cameroonian opponent. With the reputation of the sport seemingly hanging solely on the shoulders of Joshua, while in comparison Ngannou appears excited and grateful of the opportunity to fight a former world heavyweight champion.
With the Joshua-Ngannou fight further serving as a replacement for the heavily-anticipated fight between Joshua and Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KO’s), after Wilder lost to Joseph Parker (34-3, 23 KO’s) on December 23rd, the expectations for Joshua to grab a victory have only increased; especially with their March 8th fight being labeled as the Knockout Chaos event.
However, with the chance to face the undisputed heavyweight champion if he makes it past Ngannou, Anthony Joshua will likely enter the ring at the best he can be as he faces a more experienced and eager Ngannou who will be determined to test Joshua’s heart, and chin.
