Can Ngannou change into a title contender with a win over Joshua?

Lower than 90 days in the past, Francis Ngannou had by no means stepped by the ropes for knowledgeable boxing match.

We knew Ngannou possessed crushing energy, however that was all displayed within the Octagon, the place he reigned as UFC heavyweight champion.

The 37-year-old was considered as little greater than a worthy dance companion for a boxing superfight heading into his October assembly with Tyson Fury.

Nonetheless, Ngannou confirmed he was way over that when he dropped the heavyweight boxing champion in Spherical 3 and even gained the battle on one of many three scorecards.

Now, Ngannou has an unbelievable alternative to show the efficiency was no fluke when he faces former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Actually, what Ngannou is doing is unprecedented: his first two skilled boxing matches will happen vs. future Corridor of Famers, who’re nonetheless among the many sport’s heavyweight elite.

Joshua appeared his finest in years when he stopped Otto Wallin in 5 rounds final month. Can he construct upon his resurgent 2023 marketing campaign? Will Ngannou shock the world once more? Let’s take an early take a look at the important thing storylines for Joshua vs. Ngannou:

Ngannou seems to show efficiency vs. Fury was no fluke

While you break it down, it is fairly beautiful how efficient Ngannou was in opposition to Fury. Fury entered the bout a -1400 favourite, however appeared confused at instances and unable to search out his timing.

The Cameroonian confirmed a eager sense of vary management together with his jab, pairing that together with his energy and awkward fashion to make Fury hesitant to assault. Ngannou additionally confirmed the flexibility to put his punches. His left hook landed on Fury’s temple for the only knockdown of the bout.

Now, how a lot of that success was resulting from Fury? He is the very best heavyweight on the earth — a standing he’ll look to cement when he meets Oleksandr Usyk on Feb. 17 in Riyadh — however perhaps Fury did not take Ngannou critically.

Fury swears he skilled onerous for 12 weeks to organize for Ngannou, however his father stated in any other case. Even when he did prepare correctly, it is believable he underestimated Ngannou.

There’s little likelihood Joshua will make the identical mistake after the best way Ngannou boxed. And now there’s 10 rounds of Ngannou boxing tape for Joshua and coach Ben Davison to check.

Usually in fight sports activities, younger fighters discover success till opponents and coaches can examine their weaknesses. If Ngannou can hassle Joshua — not to mention defeat him — there isn’t any doubt he is for actual.

If Ngannou springs the upset, he is a title contender. What if he loses?

It will depend on how he loses. Consensus fan opinion recommended Ngannou deserved the choice in opposition to Fury. He additionally gained the battle on one scorecard. And even when he did not, flooring “The Gypsy King” was a win in and of itself.

In his second boxing match, extra can be anticipated of Ngannou. If he drops one other spirited choice, there isn’t any doubt he is a bona fide heavyweight contender.

If he loses a large choice however is aggressive, he’ll nonetheless be a contender and, together with his identify recognition, ought to discover his strategy to one other profitable boxing match.

But when he is uncompetitive over 10 rounds or is knocked out early, it might spell the top of Ngannou’s superb run.

And if he pulls off the shocker and defeats Joshua, then Ngannou can be in line for a crack on the winner of Fury-Usyk and one other significant bout within the meantime, whether or not it is Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder or Joseph Parker.

Talking of Wilder, wasn’t he imagined to battle Joshua in March?

Certainly he was. Wilder and Joshua even struck a deal forward of their Dec. 23 doubleheader that featured them in separate bouts.

Wilder, some of the vaunted punchers in heavyweight historical past, was a -700 favourite to defeat Parker. As a substitute, Parker gained each spherical and was the one who threatened to attain the KO.

In the primary occasion, Joshua dealt with enterprise when he fractured the nostril of Wallin — who gave Fury all he might deal with in 2019 — to stay on the Saudi Arabia card.

The deal was contingent on each Joshua and Wilder successful, so organizers turned to Ngannou following Wilder’s loss.

What does this battle imply for Joshua?

Joshua was all however written off after back-to-back losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. There isn’t any disgrace in shedding to a fighter the likes of Usyk, however boxing is a merciless enterprise, and it wasn’t simply these two losses.

Actually, Joshua hasn’t appeared the identical since his surprising 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. Earlier than that bout, Joshua was a seek-and-destroy fighter with super energy. After successful the Olympic gold medal in 2012, he shortly gained the heavyweight title and made some high quality defenses.

Particularly, he rallied from a knockdown to knockout Corridor of Famer Wladimir Klitschko in ESPN’s 2017 Struggle of the 12 months and simply outpointed Parker the next 12 months.

Joshua additionally regained his titles from Ruiz in December 2019, however he did so with a cautious, safety-first boxing strategy that left followers wanting extra. And over his subsequent few fights, Joshua wasn’t way more aggressive, which was probably the remnants of his TKO loss to Ruiz.

“He is aware of that he’s weak and he is aware of that he can get harm and dropped and stopped and lose fights,” Wallin advised ESPN forward of their battle. ” … What made him good was that he was aggressive, good puncher and searching for a stoppage kind of man. However he is modified rather a lot and he is misplaced a few of what made him good.”

However in opposition to Wallin, Joshua was as soon as once more aggressive. He sought the stoppage and confirmed off his energy. He battered Wallin together with his jab, broke his nostril and compelled him to retire on his stool following Spherical 5.

It is little coincidence the efficiency got here in Joshua’s third battle of 2023. Exercise is significant in boxing. The win additionally got here in his first battle, with Davison main his nook.

Now, a assured and rejuvenated Joshua has his likelihood to show he is actually again with a dominant efficiency vs. Ngannou that ought to set him up for a future battle with Fury.

Joshua is ESPN’s No. 3 heavyweight behind Fury and Usyk.