Following his victory over Otto Wallin just before Christmas, the two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is actively seeking his next opponent. He rebounded from consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk with three wins last year. ‘AJ’ is now exploring potential matchups for his next bout, especially this year.
Among the top contenders in consideration is former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. Well, Ngannou recently proved his might against Tyson Fury, and he could be a possible opponent against Joshua. Now the famous reporter Gareth A Davies has expressed his thoughts on the fight between Joshua and Ngannou if it ever was to happen.
Gareth A Davies talks about the potential bout
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the crossover fight last October, former UFC champion Francis Ngannou faced off against Tyson Fury, pushing the heavyweight boxing champion to the brink. Despite a controversial decision that went against Ngannou, the fight proved to be anything but a walkover for Fury. Anticipated to secure an easy victory and set the stage for an undisputed bout against Oleksandr Usyk, Fury found himself being tested to his limits.
💥 @GarethADaviesDT doesn’t see a fight between @AnthonyJoshua and @Francis_Ngannou going the distance 😳
📽️ https://t.co/Ws6acMrsB9#AnthonyJoshua #FrancisNgannou #Boxing pic.twitter.com/4zQgFnTKEK
— Boxing Social (@boxing_social) January 4, 2024
On the other hand, Anthony Joshua delivered an enthralling fifth-round knockout against Otto Wallin.
Meanwhile, renowned journalist Gareth A Davies expected a definite knockout if both heavyweight titans ever clashed. He said, “I don’t know. There could be 10 rounds of war. One of them’s getting knocked out and you’ve got to hope for boxing’s sake again that it’s not Anthony Joshua. Because that does disturb the apple cart in lots of ways. This is what it’s about.”
Although the potential fight has still not reached the negotiation table, former trainer Robert Garcia has advised Anthony Joshua not to opt for the fight against the former UFC fighter.
Joshua should look past Ngannou
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Garcia has advised Anthony Joshua against a potential fight with Francis Ngannou, stating that such a matchup “shouldn’t be sanctioned.” Initially dismissing the idea as a “gimmick,” Joshua’s perspective shifted after Ngannou’s challenging bout against Tyson Fury. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, is considering Filip Hrgovic as the likely opponent for Joshua’s next fight. However, he also included the names of Ngannou and Zhilei Zhang as potential contenders.
Garcia said, “It’s a f**ing easy fight for Joshua. Those fights shouldn’t even be sanctioned’. Ngannou, fighting the heavyweight champion of the world, Fury, and it being sanctioned is stupid. Fury disrespected boxing by not training one single day for that fight. He disrespected boxing bad, it was f**ing embarrassing.” He believes that the sport of boxing deserves better and this matchup shouldn’t happen.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou is something that some fans would love to watch, while others would like to skip it. Which one are you? Tell us in the comments section.
Watch This Story: Anthony Joshua’s Tattoos and the Meaning Behind Them