British heavyweight Anthony Joshua go dey hope to continue im winning streak wen e take on Francis Ngannou for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday.
Two-time world champion Joshua don rebuild im career wit three straight victories ova di past 11 months, but now e dey come up against di former UFC champion wey get little to lose.
French-Cameroonian Ngannou start im boxing debut against Tyson Fury for October, e drop di WBC world champion inside one non-title fight before e lose on a split decision.
Ngannou na just flash for di pan or a serious heavyweight contender? Wit a potential fight wit Fury on di horizon, Joshua go buckle under di pressure?
Here na some predictions from big names for di boxing world.
British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley: “I tink AJ go win. Weda na knockout or not I no know becos Ngannou na veri tough man.
“Yes, AJ dey veri strong and na veri good puncher, but e dey different wit pesin like Ngannou who dey used to taking elbows and knees to di head.”
Middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz: “Anthony Joshua go knock am out in six to eight rounds. Im correct fundamentals go come into play and im explosiveness go dey too much for Ngannou.”
Multiple-weight world champion Natasha Jonas: “I no tink say we go see complacent Joshua. E go dey train 100% for di best of Ngannou and I tink e go win by stoppage.”
Heavyweight Otto Wallin: “I hope Joshua go come out aggressive again becos den I tink e go knock am out. We know Ngannou get power and if Joshua try to play safe den e fit get clipped. But I hope e go dey aggressive. If e knock Ngannou out e go make me look beta.”
Heavyweight Zhilei Zhang: “AJ by knockout.”
Heavyweight Joseph Parker: “I no fit really tok who go win. Na tough one. Ngannou na good friend of mine and AJ dey veri respectful and we dey tok sometimes. Di fight go dey interesting. May di best man win.”
WBO welterweight world champion Sandy Ryan: “AJ by knockout.”
Retired world champion and boxing coach Anthony Crolla: “You know wetin I do last time, I make myself look very silly by saying Francis Ngannou get absolutely zero chance of neva mind beating Tyson Fury or giving am a half decent fight and I chop humble pie. However, I tink say di shock element no dey dia now.
“I believe we go see Anthony Joshua win inside five rounds. I tink di fight go dey entertaining, e go start fast and look to put Ngannou for im place. E no go get di same unpredictability and dey underestimated like Fury do. AJ inside five.”
Former world champion Hannah Rankin: “Dis na dangerous fight for AJ as e get evritin to lose but e get di beta skillset and boxing brain so I tink, as long as e keep am long and no get involved inside wit Ngannou, e go take di win.”
Heavyweight Joe Joyce: “E fit go either way, na big fight. Both of dem na powerful guys wey don put time in training. E fit be a double KO like di trailer. May di best man win, 50/50 fight for me.”
Super-flyweight prospect Shannon Ryan: “My fight prediction na a ninth-round knockout by di main man imsef, Anthony Joshua.”
Lightweight world title contender Rhiannon Dixon: “I really shock for how well Francis Ngannou perform for di Fury fight. Sometimes, I don observe MMA fighters, dem no dey follow convention, E hard to figure dem out. But Joshua don make a lot of improvements so I tink AJ go win. Maybe by stoppage.”
Heavyweight Moses Itauma: “My initial thought na AJ go knock Francis out late but den I check im UFC fight and even im fight wit Tyson fury, e no too get moves. I tink AJ experience and boxing IQ go help am and e go be unanimous points victory.”
Cruiserweight Viddal Riley: “AJ to win between rounds five and seven.”
- Di town for Nigeria wia Joshua dey reign supreme
- All you need to know about di Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou big fight
