“Don’t leave boxing”. Anthony Joshua, after knocking him down in two rounds, invites Fransis Ngannou to continue his adventure in the world of boxing. But as a measured character as he is, it is probably a matter of circumstance. In fact, Fransis Ngannou has never fully entered the world of boxing. He had deceived everyone, first of all himself last October, when despite losing he had knocked out Tyson Fury. But the world champion showed up in objectively indecent conditions, giving credence to the rumors that he was training in pubs across half of England.
Joshua against Ngannou, Street Fighter in Riyadh among lots of money, video games and doubts by Luigi Panella 08 March 2024
Joshua, however, who after being defeated twice by Usyk and a lackluster return was at a crossroads in his career, has stayed away from the pubs. He prepared himself perfectly and made his quality – technically high – a boxer count against someone who is not a boxer. “If Fury entered the MMA cage I would always beat him,” Ngannou said, returning to talk about that match. True, but the ring is different. Joshua, who has the problem – not a minor one for a heavyweight – of having a fragile jaw, took little time to get his measurements right. He was just careful not to cross the Cameroonian’s shots, then he closed in a peremptory manner.
A dramatic knockout, Ngannou electrocuted
A right hand in the first round knocked out Ngannou, who however had the coolness to wait for almost the entire count before getting up to recover and put his thoughts in order. Only these remained confused. In the second it became clear that the good Fransis had no plan b. He seemed to await his fate resignedly, and AJ, with a look as evil as he hadn’t seen in a long time, ended the conversation. Another right hand not even remotely intuitive put Ngannou down, who got up and offered a fixed target with a definitive blow. A right hand delivered with maximum power and viciousness which he suffered against an undefended defense causing fear for his safety for a few minutes – during which he was also given oxygen.
Mourinho’s enthusiasm and Ronaldo the Phenomenon
Then, the sigh of relief. Nhannou recovered as José Mourinho and Ronaldo the Phenomenon ran to Joshua’s corner to congratulate him. AJ meanwhile pointed to Tyson Fury, sitting ringside next to his wife and Sheikh Turki Alalshikh, director of the very rich boxing operation that has been underway in Saudi Arabia for months. It seems almost obvious that, if Fury prevails against Usyk on May 18th in the match that will reunite all the heavyweight crowns after 25 years, a British super derby is on the horizon. However there is time. For now Joshua is enjoying his newfound credibility and the forty million dollars raised from the trip. Ngannou returns to France with his tail between his legs and a bank account that has grown by 15 million. All things considered, not too bad for someone who in boxing has a record of 2 fights and as many defeats…