“Ngannou Admits He’s the Underdog Against Anthony Joshua”

“Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou to Clash in Heavyweight Showdown

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou are gearing up for a heavyweight battle on Friday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight has garnered attention as Ngannou, in his second professional boxing match, faces off against the experienced Joshua.

Ngannou, known for his skills in the UFC, impressed in his first boxing bout against Fury, lasting all ten rounds and even scoring a knockdown. However, the victory went to Fury that time.

Despite his performance, Ngannou considers himself the underdog against Joshua, who has a record of 26 wins and 3 losses, most recently defeating Otto Wallin in five rounds in December.

During the final weigh-in, Ngannou, 37, confidently expressed his mindset, saying, ‘This is only my second fight, but I’m facing two of the best fighters in the world. I’ve learned from my last fight, but my determination remains the same. I may be the underdog here, but if we met elsewhere, I’d take on both Fury and Joshua at once.’

Reader Response Favors Joshua for First Knockdown
A poll by Vanguard asked who would score the first knockdown, with a majority favoring Joshua.

While the first knockdown doesn’t guarantee victory, it could boost the confidence of the fighter who achieves it.

Transition from UFC to Boxing
Ngannou is part of a growing trend of UFC fighters crossing over to boxing. Notable names like Conor McGregor, Anderson, and Vitor Belfort have made the switch.

Lagos Boxing Enthusiasts Root for Joshua
In Lagos, boxing enthusiasts are rallying behind Joshua for a victory against Ngannou in the heavyweight clash. They predict Joshua will emerge as the winner by unanimous decision.

Abayomi Oyeleye, a boxing coach with Bornu Sports Association, and Remi Aboderin, President of the West Africa Boxing Union (WABU), acknowledge the tough fight ahead but believe Joshua will come out on top.

Fight Details:
– Joshua vs. Ngannou is expected to start at 11 PM Nigerian time, with undercard fights before the main event.
– The fight is scheduled for 10 rounds if there’s no knockout.
– Prize money: Reports suggest Joshua will earn $50 million, while Ngannou will receive $20 million, excluding pay-per-view points.

Full Undercard:
– Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker (WBO ‘Interim’ Heavyweight Belt)
– Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball (WBC Featherweight World Title)
– Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov (WBA Super-Welterweight World Title)
– Mark Chamberlain vs. Gavin Gwynne (Lightweight)
– Justis Huni vs. Kevin Lerena (Heavyweight)
– Jack McGann vs. Louis Greene (Super-Welterweight)
– Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Christian Lopez Flores (Super-Lightweight)
– Roman Fury vs. Martin Svarc (Cruiserweight)
– Andrii Novytskyi vs. Juan Torres (Heavyweight)”