Rejuvenated and revamped British boxer, Anthony Joshua will tonight clash with crossover one capped heavyweight boxer, Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Both boxers appear highly prepared and ready to make a statement with tonight’s bout.
Ngannou made his boxing debut in the ring against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and lost controversially by a close split decision, even dropping Fury with a left hook in Round 3.
But, Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) defeated Wladimir Klitschko in April 2107 to win the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles. Joshua added the WBO belt by defeating Joseph Parker a year later but then lost the titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019.
He regained them in the rematch six months later and made one defense before losing back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua had been expected to face Deontay Wilder, but Wilder lost a unanimous decision to Parker in December, opening the door for Ngannou to step in.
See Expert predictions
Anthony Crolla (former lightweight world champion)
“Myself, like many others, got it badly wrong last time. So many people wrote Ngannou off, he was trolled online over pad work and he was so much better than everybody thought. That uncertainty is gone and as a boxing fan it’s making you look forward to it even more. He pushed Tyson Fury so close, people thought he might have even won it. I think Joshua has got a little bit more to watch, they would have studied him.
George Groves (former super middleweight world champion)
“The pressure is on for AJ because he’s fighting an newbie boxer with a record of 0-1. He should have the class to go in there and box rings around Ngannou, but anything can happen. Ngannou might be twice as good this time because he’s had a double camp.
Dan Hardy (former UFC fighter)
“I think this is a much better fight for Francis Ngannou. Tyson Fury is tricky, he’s got good head movement, he’s smart, he’s wily, he’s got great footwork.
“AJ is a great boxer, very technically sound, but he doesn’t move like Fury, he’s going to be more hittable for Ngannou. Ngannou has now also got 10 rounds of confidence because he knows he can fight for 10 rounds in a boxing ring, and that to him was a mystery in his first fight.
Sean O’Malley (UFC bantamweight champion)
“I think Francis can definitely beat Anthony Joshua.
“His neck, his chin, he’s going to be hard to knock out and scary to sit in the pocket and trade with because he has insane power.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the win.”
Dewey Cooper (Francis Ngannou’s trainer)
“Our goal is domination, we’ve got to defend that right hand he likes to set up and be attentive to the jab.
“I truly believe Francis can beat him outside and inside. My prediction? I said it at the press conference: the ferocious, furious, flaming, feisty fists of Francis Ngannou will finish Anthony Joshua.”
The bout will take place by 11pm Nigerian time.
TNG with additional information from Sky Sports