Francis Ngannou has shared his unique perspective on one of boxing’s most anticipated potential matchups: Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. Having faced both men inside the ring, Ngannou offers rare firsthand insight and while he sees the fight as razor-close, he’s giving a slight edge to Fury. “If I have to favor somebody, it’s going to be very slight,” Ngannou told The Schmo. “I would say Fury because he’s very slick.”
Ngannou’s boxing resume may be brief, but it includes two of the biggest names in the sport. In October 2023, he shocked the world by knocking down Fury and pushing him to a controversial split decision loss. Months later, in March 2024, Ngannou faced Joshua only to suffer a devastating knockout defeat.
Those contrasting outcomes give Ngannou a balanced view of both heavyweights’ strengths. “He’s done well with professional boxing,” Ngannou said of Fury. “He only doesn’t understand when it’s not a pro boxer.”
Mega Fight in the Works
Momentum is building toward a long-awaited showdown between Fury and Joshua. Joshua is set to return on July 25 against Kristian Prenga at “The Comeback” event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia part of the Esports World Cup. On the same day, plans were announced for Joshua to face Fury later this year in a blockbuster fight expected to land on Netflix under The Ring Magazine banner.
If finalized, it would mark one of the biggest heavyweight clashes of the modern era. Fury recently returned from retirement and secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, signaling that “The Gypsy King” remains a major force in the division.
His movement, ring IQ, and adaptability traits Ngannou highlighted could prove decisive against Joshua’s power-based approach.
Ngannou Returns to MMA
Meanwhile, Ngannou isn’t done competing. He’s set to return to MMA on May 16, taking on Phillipe Lins at MVP’s inaugural event at Intuit Dome in California. While his focus shifts back to the cage, his insight into Fury vs. Joshua carries weight because few fighters have shared the ring with both.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
