David Price predicts that former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will easily defeat Francis Ngannou in their upcoming fight on March 8th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A decisive victory for Joshua over Ngannou will give fans hope that he can compete against Tyson Fury, who narrowly defeated Ngannou in a controversial decision last October. If Joshua impresses against Ngannou, fans will be excited to see a potential showdown between him and Fury, assuming Fury wins his fight against Oleksandr Usyk on May 18th.
Price believes that Joshua will dominate Ngannou in their boxing match. While Joshua should win without much trouble, there is some concern about his chin since he was hurt by Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. However, Ngannou cannot be completely counted out in this ten-round clash. If Joshua had to face a more skilled and experienced opponent like Zhilei Zhang, it would complicate matters. Some fans speculate that both AJ and Fury are nearing the end of their careers and are being carefully matched to prolong their success.
Price suggests that a dominant victory for Joshua over Ngannou will further highlight Fury’s lackluster performance against Francis last October, generating more discussion and criticism. Joshua is receiving a substantial payout from Saudi Arabia to face the relatively inexperienced Ngannou in what is essentially an eliminator bout. The winner will have the opportunity to fight the victor of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk match for the undisputed championship. Some find it peculiar that Joshua is allowed to take such a fight to earn a shot at the undisputed title, but this type of spectacle has become commonplace in the heavyweight division.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has been hyping Ngannou as a “dangerous” and formidable threat to AJ based on his performance against Fury. However, Price does not believe this hype. Ngannou has been selected as an opponent to ensure Joshua’s path to a lucrative fight against Fury remains smooth and obstacle-free.
According to the Source boxingnews24.com