A big surprise for many. The official fight between Joshua and Ngannou took place a few days ago, so the boxing world has something to look forward to again. “If AJ takes the kind of punches Fury took, I don’t guarantee he’ll get up. I hear he has a glass chin. I have to find out,” smiles Ngannou. Although he lost on points, many still consider him the winner. The controversial result is still a thorn in the side of some.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, on the other hand, does not accept any danger. “I really believe AJ can beat him. But he is definitely a dangerous opponent. I know the guy is huge and can hit really hard. But I think he has nothing to fear. AJ is doing great and I expect him to take him down and finish him,” predicts a possible path.
Ngannou recently participated in a tournament where his next opponent was boxing. He watched Joshua’s overwhelming triumph over Otto Wallin from the front row. “He looked amazing, respect to him. He did his job right, he was fast and tough. It was sharp, very sharp. But on the other hand, I think there was no backlash against him. It will be different against me. I’m not just going to stand there and watch him. I throw some bombs in there for him to deal with. He’s going to have to be careful what he’s doing,” Ngannou says.
Both rake in huge bucks. The Sport Business Journal server reports that Joshua will collect 31 million pounds (approximately 887 million crowns), while Ngannou will collect approximately half – 16 million pounds (approximately 457 million crowns), which is still twice the amount he earned after the controversial defeat with Fury.
The former UFC champion believes that thanks to the first scalp between the sixteen ropes, he will fight his way to a second duel with Fury. On the other hand, at the time of Ngannou’s duel with Joshua, he will have fought for all heavyweight titles against Oleksandr Usyk (February 17). The Cameroonian claims he has a clause in his contract for a possible retaliation, which could happen within a year. “Retaliation was not immediately on the agenda, but we have a deadline within a year. It comes out this October,” he revealed.
Anthony Joshua takes on a liger in a tug-of-war during his trip to Fame Park zoo in Dubai… as British boxing star also strikes a pose alongside a baby lion and snakes. In a stunt to promote an upcoming fight. Shame on you. ????https://t.co/29oExGpXAi pic.twitter.com/hKyQ7Y6RCF
— Xpose Trophy Hunting (@XposeTrophyHunt) January 9, 2024
With less than two months left until the fight, the former British holder of the belts of the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO organizations found time in the previous days to visit an exotic zoo in Dubai, where he was seen alongside former legendary football player Alessandro Del Piero. Joshua even dared to have some unconventional fun – he wrestled with a liger (feline animal) on a rope. As expected, the muscular boxer lost.
“I think Joshua is easier to take down than Fury. Not that he is not a strong fighter, on the contrary, he is very tenacious, but it is simply easier,” says the 37-year-old Ngannou, who expects to perform much better than in his debut. “No one knows what I can do. I’m constantly improving, but I’m just a beginner. I’m getting better.”
