ANTHONY JOSHUA’S fight with Francis Ngannou is set to have a different set of rules.
The rule change for the heavyweight bout comes at the request of the former UFC champion.
Ngannou will make his second appearance in the boxing ring against Joshua on Friday night.
The pair are set to clash at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, the fight will not take place over 12 rounds as is usually the case for professional bouts.
Instead, AJ and Ngannou will do battle over ten three-minute rounds, with the number of rounds reduced at the Predator’s request.
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The mixed martial arts icon’s boxing debut against Tyson Fury was also contested over ten rounds.
He knocked down the Gypsy King back in October but was ultimately beaten via split decision.
His forthcoming fight with Joshua will be a standard boxing match at heavyweight outside of the number of rounds.
Ngannou clarified his decision to make the request after being asked by the two-time unified world champion.
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Speaking ahead of the fight, the 37-year-old explained: “They told me 12 and I said ‘No, cut it out.’
“I’m not taking a Mike Tyson fight as a reference like ‘Oh, I’m a pro boxer now’.
“No, I’m building it up. I just came into it, they asked for ten rounds or 12 rounds, and I said ten.”
Ngannou amassed a 17-3 professional record in MMA before his transition to boxing, including 12 knockout victories.
He had hinted at wanting a mixed rules event for his clash with Joshua after the fight was confirmed.
Back in December, Ngannou said: “Anything that he wants. Ring or octagon.
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“The good thing is I’m the one that can go everywhere comfortably. My comfort zone will be the octagon, but I’m going to the ring and putting them in a bad spot in the ring.
“I have my territory [in MMA] where they cannot mess with me. If they come, they will need something like some favour, like, ‘I’ll give you this, we’ll take kicks out.’
“I have to give him something, but when we step in the ring, they don’t give me anything, and I still get them in trouble.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
