Anthony Joshua has been warned an ‘improved version’ of Francis Ngannou is coming to knock him out next month.
The former UFC heavyweight champion shocked the world when he dropped WBC heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury during his boxing debut last October.
Ngannou almost pulled off a monumental upsetCredit: Getty
Ngannou ultimately fell to a controversial split decision defeat but walked away from the bout with a ton of credit and the biggest payday of his combat sports career.
Now, he’s been booked to fight Joshua in Saudi Arabia on March 8.
The two-time heavyweight world champion is a big favourite in the matchup, and some boxing fans think he’ll have an easier time than Fury did against ‘ The Predator’ as the element of surprise is gone.
However, Ngannou’s long-time boxing coach, Dewey Cooper, has promised his fighter will prove the doubters wrong again at ‘Knockout Chaos’.
“I know what the boxing public is saying. ‘He caught Tyson Fury off guard, there was no way to study him, Anthony Joshua will be prepared for him’,” Cooper told talkSPORT.com.
“The one component they are forgetting is that was Francis Ngannou’s first boxing fight. In his first fight, he fought a 10-round fight against the best heavyweight in the world.
“Don’t you think his learning curve from his first fight to his second 10-round fight is going to be vast? That’s what you’re going to see, you’re going to see a more improved version of Ngannou on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.”
Cooper, who is a lifelong martial artist and celebrated boxing trainer, says Ngannou will look to KO Joshua like everyone else he has faced during his career
Cooper has supreme confidence in his fighterCredit: Getty
He believes Joshua will be shocked by Ngannou’s improved skills on March 8Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom
He added: “Every time we fight, we see victory, we seek victory. Every time we fight, we try to impose domination AKA knockout. We don’t force it. We don’t look for it but that’s always a motivational factor.
“We understand the dangers in this fight. A fight against Tyson Fury is downloading data and a heavily skilled fight because Tyson has so many facets, gears, and skillsets.
“This fight is fire versus fire. This fight is Olympus strong dudes swinging at each other. Johsua likes fighting on the front foot. Francis doesn’t mind fighting on the front foot. They are going to crash.
“It’s going to be about who is the strongest. Who can go the longest? Who is the most durable? Who has the most mental fortitude? And who is the toughest?
“I feel like Francis Ngannou will do it against Anthony Joshua with those characteristics I’ve just expressed.
“It’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be a great fight. Joshua is a one-punch knockout artist. Francis is a one-punch knockout artist. The fight cannot be a bad fight.”
