Francis Ngannou backs Tyson Fury to defeat Anthony Joshua in mega fight
Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou has backed Tyson Fury to defeat Anthony Joshua when the British heavyweights finally meet in their highly anticipated showdown this November.
A rivalry a decade in the making
After ten years of trading verbal jabs, the two domestic superstars recently agreed to a historic multi-fight deal brokered by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalsheikh.
The highly-anticipated clash is expected to take place at Wembley Stadium later this year and will be broadcast live on Netflix.
Before stepping into the ring with his great rival, Joshua must first navigate a July bout against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh.
Fury, meanwhile, ended a year-long retirement last month by securing a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A unique heavyweight perspective
Very few men have shared the ring with both modern heavyweight icons, giving Ngannou a rare perspective on the impending bout.
The Cameroonian fighter made his professional boxing debut against the ‘Gypsy King’ in 2023, sensationally dropping the Brit before losing a tight split decision.
His second foray into the squared circle ended dramatically differently when the former two-time Olympian brutally knocked him out in the second round.
Despite suffering a far more devastating loss to the Watford-born puncher, the 39-year-old ultimately believes his former conqueror from Manchester will emerge victorious.
Backing the Gypsy King on points
“We’ve been waiting for that fight for almost 10 years now, so finally it has happened,”
Ngannou told Sky Sports.
“At this level, I think it’s very close. Anybody can win. It depends on how the fight goes.”
The mixed martial arts star believes the outcome hinges heavily on the duration of the contest.
“I think if it’s going to go to a decision, I will pick Fury. If it’s a knockout, I think Joshua has a chance early. But I think the fight is well in Fury’s favour.”
