News
Joshua vs Ngannou Prediction Page by the NY Fights Experts
Anthony Joshua seeks to show his professionalism and power are of a superior grade against Francis Ngannou, the 1-0 pugilist, in Saudi Arabia Friday, March 8.
Joshua (age 34: 27-3, 24 KOs) knows a win here over the 37-year-old Cameroon native brings him a sought-after clash with Tyson Fury (age 35; 34-0-1, 24 KOs).
The tall traveler has to handle Oleksandr Usyk (age 37; 21-0, 14 KOs) to fulfill his side of things, so some time needs to pass to get deeper clarity on the heavyweight division.
The NY Fights squad kindly offered up thoughts on this faceoff, brought to you by His Excellency and company. The joint promotion from Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions airs live starting at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT. You can order the pay-per-view via PPV.com which also offers live commentary and fan chat from Jim Lampley and Kevin Iole.
Joshua vs Ngannou Prediction Lineup
Francis Ngannou drops Tyson Fury with an overhead left to the temple in round three. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank via Getty Images
Gayle Falkenthal: Ngannou by stoppage. There, I said it.
He now has the benefit of 10 rounds against Tyson Fury and came within a whisker of winning after dropping the heavyweight champion – in his first professional fight. You can say Fury came in out of shape and unprepared, but he should have won on paper. So should Anthony Joshua.
He’s done the right things leading to this bout by staying active. But there’s an air of fragility around Joshua I’ve never been able to shake. If and when Ngannou lands a hard shot, Joshua will fold.
I believe Francis Ngannou has a much better shot of winning against Anthony Joshua than most people credit him for. This man’s improbable journey is one surprise after another. Every time he’s been faced with adversity, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Don’t count him out. Ngannou by TKO in the eighth.
Francis Ngannou trains with Dewey Cooper in Riyadh. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom
David Phillips: Anthony Joshua should have been the business class of this division, but instead, he already feels like more of a “what could have been” story despite still being one of the most important heavyweights in the world.
It’s that “one of” part that has always driven me crazy. When it comes to fitness, strength, and talent, he is the most gifted. What’s missing is in the center of that well-built chest.
Ngannou lands big in the ninth, and sends us all home a little bit early, shaking our heads, thinking of who Joshua almost was.
Anthony Joshua is expected to defeat Francis Ngannou – but will he do it? Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom
Colin Morrison: After his showing against an underprepared Fury, it would be foolish for any other heavyweight to take Ngannou lightly. He’s well-trained and dangerous. AJ will have taken note. This is why I think Joshua will win this bout, although I’m not sure by which method. I think he’ll box to begin with and pull away on the cards.
If a chance comes late, he may pull the trigger and end it, although if good boxing is winning the day, then he’d be well advised to stick to what is working. I’ll say Joshua on points.
Anthony Joshua looked sharp and nasty versus the Swede Otto Wallin in his last fight on December 23. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Matthew Aguilar: Ngannou has some ability. You could see that even as he went up against an unprepared, overconfident, unfocused Tyson Fury. But there is nothing necessarily special about him (you could say the same for 98 percent of the heavyweight division). With a prepared Joshua in front of him, I don’t expect Ngannou to have the same success.
Styles make fights, and Joshua will box cautiously (timidly?), take no chances, peck away with his jab, and use his decade of experience at the elite level to win an easy, mostly dull decision. (Though he’ll look vulnerable at times because, well, it’s Anthony Joshua).
Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou shake hands on the eve of their heavyweight showdown. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom
Ryan O’Hara: Joshua by KO. Hopefully, this sport will stop embarrassing themselves temporarily.
Tommy Rainone: If AJ doesn’t get clipped he wins a unanimous decision. This only goes one of those two ways.
Anthony Joshua weighed-in at 252.4 pounds (18st) to arrive just a pound heavier than in his resounding win over Otto Wallin in December. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Anthony Joshua.
Matthew Pomara: This heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou is going to be a fun scrap and will answer the question of what Ngannou brings to the ring when he is in against someone who is actually taking him seriously.
Joshua’s Strengths: Superior Boxing Skills: Joshua’s is arguably the most seasoned heavyweight in the division and experience gives him a huge edge in boxing ability and ring generalship.
Ngannou’s Strengths: Devastating Power: Ngannou possesses serious game-changing power that could take A.J. out at any moment. Think about what Andy Ruiz Jr. did.
Prediction: Do you believe the Joshua who handled Otto Wallin will show up? Or do you think he will be tentative and walk into a Ngannou home run swing like he did against Andy Ruiz, Jr.? I think the former. A motivated Joshua will put together a masterclass and he will take Ngannou out in the late rounds. Joshua by KO in the ninth.
Francis Ngannou came in at 272.6 pounds (19st 6oz) ahead of just his second professional boxing match following October’s split decision loss to Tyson Fury. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Cesar Rene Frausto: Mr. Ngannou gave quite a performance against Tyson Fury. Yet, considering the context of such a fight, Fury definitely seemed to have overlooked Ngannou, thinking he was a light touch. Consequently, he did not look as in shape as he should have been, which implies a lack of preparation and seriousness in the lead-up to fight night.
Anthony Joshua is different. He takes every fight extremely seriously and trains as if they were all championship bouts. His work ethic speaks for itself and I think Joshua wants to make a real statement against Ngannou.
It is quite undeniable that AJ can get KOd. Ngannou has the power to accomplish that, yet AJ is intelligent enough to fight smart enough to avoid that. Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision.
Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou weigh in ahead of their heavyweight bout Friday. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Jack Kelly: Francis Ngannou’s performance against Tyson Fury on October 28 of last year was nothing short of spectacular. The former UFC heavyweight champion came within a round of beating the WBC champion in his pro debut.
Was that more a result of Fury’s lack of discipline and him taking the fight lightly? Or is Ngannou just that special and a major player in the heavyweight division?
Seems to most likely be a combination of both, but we’ll find out for sure tomorrow. Anthony Joshua is the ultimate professional. Despite some of his shortcomings at the highest level you never have to worry about him being in shape or ready to fight.
As we already know, Ngannou will be dangerous and can change the course of the fight with just one punch. A win over a former unified heavyweight champion would continue this fairytale run for Ngannou and land him a crack at the undisputed title. But in the end, I think Joshua’s jab and boxing take control of the early rounds and lead him to either a unanimous decision victory or a late-round TKO.
It’s nine to two for Anthony Joshua among the NY Fights experts. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Ed Odeven: Joshua surely paid attention to every detail of the Fury-Ngannou fight and realizes he can’t take Ngannou lightly.
So Joshua will be fully prepared. The question that follows, as I see it, will be this: Can Ngannou land enough punches to consistently score enough points to win rounds? If so, a win via a decision appears possible.
At this stage of Joshua’s career, I believe he wants a couple more lucrative paydays to follow this weekend’s fight. With that in mind, the more experienced boxer Joshua will fight smart, but aggressively and look for the opportune moment to aim for a knockout.
NY Fights Panel:
Anthony Joshua by stoppage: O’Hara, Pomara, Johnson, Kelly, Odeven (5)
Anthony Joshua by decision: Morrison, Aguilar, Rainone, Frausto (4)
Francis Ngannou by stoppage: Phillips, Falkenthal (2)
Francis Ngannou by decision: Nil.
