MMA

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned he faces “the hardest puncher in the world” in Francis Ngannou. The humongous heavyweight pair meet in a crossover clash on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.
Francis Ngannou with his boxing trainer Dewey CooperCredit: Reuters
And when they came face to face for the first time at a press conference, Ngannou questioned Joshua’s punch resilience.
His boxing coach Dewey Cooper has now clarified those comments – with the MMA star possessing the power to be ultra confident.
Cooper told DAZN: “The bottom line is when you bring pressure and an imposing style to break your opponent down, like Anthony Joshua going on the front foot against Otto Wallin, there is a level of trepidation, a level of danger when you are fighting a guy who has knockout power.
“Especially against a guy who has one punch knockout power like Francis Ngannou does. Me as a coach, I don’t discount Joshua’s chin.
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“He’s an Olympic Gold medallist, a two-time heavyweight boxing world champion, I know his pedigree, I know his talent.
“But when you are Francis Ngannou, when you are registered as the hardest puncher in the world you feel that way about everyone you come up against. That’s a great way to feel going into a fight.”
Ngannou, 37, astonishingly dropped Tyson Fury, 35, on his boxing debut in October before controversially losing on points.
Despite defeat, the ex-UFC champion proceeds to fight Joshua, 34, in only his second boxing bout and aimed a dig at the British superstar.
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He said: “I’m going to fight him, so what do you think I’m going to do? Look for his chin.
“I mean, that’s what happens in a fight. In a fight, you try to hit somebody in the chin or wherever you can hit him, right?
“Yes, I heard that he doesn’t have a chin. I don’t know if it’s true or not. We are going to find out.
“I hope I get the opportunity to test that out. That’s my wish, that’s what I’m wishing for.”
Anthony Joshua and Ngannou ahead of their fightCredit: PA More

ANTHONY JOSHUA will be in line to challenge for Tyson Fury’s WBC world heavyweight title if he beats Francis Ngannou. Joshua returns on March 8 in Saudi Arabia against ex-UFC champion Ngannou, in only his second boxing bout.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman with Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua is the No1 rated challenger for Fury’s beltCredit: Reuters
AJ currently stands as the WBC’s No1 ranked challenger meaning if he is victorious, he could be mandated to face Fury.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Gambling.com: “He has had a sensational career and if he beats Francis Ngannou, then he is number one in the WBC while Francis Ngannou is number 10 so the winner will certainly be positioned for great things in the immediate future.”
Ngannou put his MMA career on hold last year to fight Fury on his boxing debut.
And he amazingly scored a knockdown only to be beaten via controversial split-decision.
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Fury, 35, now faces Oleksandr Usyk, 36, on February 17 in Saudi for the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Meanwhile Joshua, 34, takes on Ngannou, 37, just three weeks later.
Winners of the two super-fights could meet but as it stands, Fury and Usyk are already contracted to a rematch.
But WBC boss Sulaiman would consider altering plans if promoters requested.
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He said: “The WBC already sanctioned Fury v Usyk and the rematch.
“We received the request and have already accepted a rematch if the promoters put it together so that’s where the WBC stands.
“If the promoters change their request for the rematch, we will certainly address it.” More

BOB ARUM has heaped praise on Oleksandr Usyk and admitted Tyson Fury “wasn’t prepared” for his fight with Francis Ngannou. Ngannou put his MMA career on hold in October when he crossed over to the boxing ring to face Fury.
Tyson Fury with promoters Frank Warren, Bob Arum and rival Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Francis Ngannou lost a controversial decision to FuryCredit: Getty
And he almost caused the mother of all upsets with a knockdown in round three but the ex-UFC champion was beaten controversially on points.
Fury, 35 insisted he gave Ngannou, 37, his full respect in training camp.
But Hall of Fame promoter Arum – who has worked with the Gypsy King since 2019 – hinted otherwise.
He told BoxingScene: “Let’s be honest…
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“You watch Fury’s last fight with Ngannou, either he really wasn’t prepared for that fight, or he’s lost a step. When fighters get up in age, that happens.
“I really believe it’s the former – that Fury didn’t prepare as well as he should have [against Ngannou], who, by the way, has the tools to become a force in the heavyweight division.” 
Fury’s historic undisputed title bout against Oleksandr Usyk was postponed from December to February 17 as a result of his fight with Ngannou.
It will be the first time in heavyweight history that all four world titles will be on the line and Arum was full of praise for Usyk, 36.
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He said: “I really believe [Fury vs Usyk is] going to be a fascinating fight.
“Usyk is a very smart fighter. He prepares extremely well. He’s fearless. That will be a very big test for Fury.
“Fury knows that. He’s been training assiduously for the fight.” 
Fury facing off with Usyk ahead of the title unificationCredit: Reuters More

FLOYD MAYWEATHER has been called out by legendary kickboxer Liam Harrison after their fight was dramatically cancelled. Last February Harrison – an eight-time world champion – was due to face Mayweather in an exhibition at London’s O2 Arena.
Kickboxing legend Liam Harrison called out Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather is retired from boxing but still competes in exhibitionsCredit: Rex
But a horror knee injury caused him to painfully pull out of the bout.
He told Sky Sports: “I got asked to fight Floyd Mayweather last year and I couldn’t believe what was happening.
“After one of my fights, I got a bad knee injury. My MCL was torn, my ACL was torn, my knee was just flopping around my leg!
“They asked me to do the fight and I thought it’s only boxing, I don’t have to throw any kicks. I thought I’ll take it, so I just said yeah.
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“For the first couple of days I was training, hitting pads, doing pad work, I thought I’m alright here, I’ll get through this.
“Then when I started sparring and I didn’t have control of where their movements were going, people started pushing me back, after training I was getting out, unwrapping my leg. It was all just swollen.
“It got to the point where I was training hard for a day then I couldn’t walk for three days just because of how badly damaged my leg was.”
Brit Harrison, 38, was even left considering postponing knee surgery to roll the dice and fight Mayweather, 46.
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He revealed: “I said to my surgeon this is the chance to fight Floyd Mayweather here, can I get through this camp do you reckon?
“The fight was scheduled for February 17, or something like that, and my surgery was due for January 30. I said: ‘Can I push it back and get through the fight?’
“He said: ‘Listen I’m not going to tell you what to do, but you might do some lasting damage here.
“‘You might end up walking with a limp, you’ll need a knee replacement by the time you’re 40.’ He said: ‘Is all that going to be worth it?'”
Mayweather officially retired in 2017 after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 35, in ten rounds.
I had to pull out and I was absolutely devastated. But you never know, it might come back around.Liam Harrison on Floyd Mayweather
But he has continued to box in exhibitions against names from the MMA, martial arts and social media world.
His last was against the grandson of notorious mob boss John Gotti, which ended in a disqualification with a rematch set for February.
After Harrison withdrew, ex-Geordie Shore star-turned boxer and MMA fighter Aaron Chalmers, 36, filled in on late notice.
But the kickboxer – signed to ONE Championship in Asia – holds out hope they he can revive the fight with boxing icon Mayweather.
He said: “I thought I’m probably not going to lay a glove on this guy even when I’m at full fitness. I probably won’t be able to hit him, let alone if I’m on one leg.
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“I thought: ‘Is it going to be worth just getting in there and humiliating myself where I can’t move properly?’
“I had to pull out and I was absolutely devastated. But you never know, it might come back around.”
Floyd Mayweather is set to rematch John Gotti III in another exhibitionCredit: Rex More

FRANCIS NGANNOU is already calling out Deontay Wilder – before even fighting Anthony Joshua. Ngannou last year put on hold his MMA career to cross over to boxing for a bout with WBC champion Tyson Fury.
Francis Ngannou is already calling out Deontay WilderCredit: Getty
Wilder is coming off defeat to Joseph ParkerCredit: Getty
And he astonishingly floored Fury only to lose a controversial split-decision in Saudi Arabia.
Now, he will return to the boxing ring on March 8 back in Saudi, this time against Joshua.
But already Ngannou has his eyes set on Wilder, who blew a super-fight with AJ following defeat to Joseph Parker.
Ngannou told Sky Sports: “I’m here for the boxing career and there I have a lot of challenges, a lot of names.
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“For example, the top three guys that I’ve always had are Fury, Joshua and Wilder.
“Wilder better get it together because I’m not done, I want that name on my record.”
Fury, 35, faces Oleksandr Usyk, 36, on February 17 in Saudi in what is the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification.
So Ngannou, 37, was left to weigh up his options after being denied a rematch.
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But Joshua, 34, became available following defeat for Wilder, 38, who saw their £100million fight deal go up in smoke.
The beaten American’s next move remains up in the air.
But Ngannou revealed there were talks for the two to fight in The Professional Fighters League, the MMA promotion he is signed to.
He said: “Two months ago, we were talking about fighting Deontay Wilder in the PFL. The landscape can change quick. Everything is possible.”

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT More