MMA heavyweight Francis Ngannou is setting his sights on a monumental victory as he prepares to face former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promising to be a clash of titans that could reshape the landscape of combat sports.
Ngannou, making a transition from the octagon to the boxing ring, nearly caused a seismic upset in his professional boxing debut against WBC world champion Tyson Fury last October. Demonstrating his formidable power, Ngannou managed to drop Fury in the third round, pushing the fight to a nail-biting ten-round split decision loss. Reflecting on his performance, Ngannou is determined to leverage his explosive start against Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs), aiming to leave nothing to chance.
“Nothing is impossible, right? We don’t know the strength of Anthony Joshua, but even though I don’t believe he has that strength [to beat me], we’re going to find out,” Ngannou stated confidently on the “High Performance” podcast. His words resonate with an unshakeable belief in his capability to not only compete but to dominate and “take the soul” of his opponent.
Still feeling the sting of what he perceives as a victory unjustly awarded to Fury due to the judges’ decision, Ngannou is motivated by a deep-seated desire to ensure his fight with Joshua does not end in the hands of the officials. He carries with him not only his personal ambitions but also the pride and support of his family and fans, who witnessed his almost historic performance against Fury.
Reflecting on his journey and the dreams he’s pursued since childhood, Ngannou sees his achievements not just as personal victories but as validations of his hard work and perseverance. “The dream that I was in since I was a kid, I was, that night, living that dream on top of the world. I was there. And for all the people that have been doubting me, I was there proving them wrong,” Ngannou remarked, his voice a testament to his resolve and unwavering spirit.
Image Credit: ESPN