Francis Ngannou has another chance to make history.
The Cameroonian, whose very presence close to the summit of boxing’s heavyweight division can only be seen as unlikely, will have an opportunity to score a seismic upset should he defeat former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua in what is the latest glitzy, big money spectacle put forth by the sport’s new big-money benefactors in the Middle East.
Ngannou’s first foray into boxing last year against Tyson Fury is unanimously heralded as the most difficult debut fight in the sport’s history. That fight, billed as the ‘Battle of the Baddest,’ pitted the lineal boxing and mixed martial arts heavyweight champions against one another, in what was expected by most to be a cakewalk for the undefeated Fury.
However, after ten rounds perhaps no man has come quite as close as Ngannou to handing Fury his first defeat in the ring after he put forth a composed, patient performance and knocked Fury to the canvas with a clubbing (and partially blocked) left hand in what was universally regarded as an explosive third round.
A repeat of that type of performance on Friday, particularly if he is able to connect with the type of powerful shot that felled Fury, would be still be considered as one of the biggest shocks even seen in prizefighting — and judging by the evidence from Tuesday’s open workout in Riyadh, Joshua will be forced to navigate a past some of Ngannou’s dynamic body shots if he is to have his hand raised.
Check out our footage below:
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