Anthony Joshua is the odds-on favourite to beat Francis Ngannou tonight as he attempts to go one better than Tyson Fury.
Fury was dropped by former UFC champion Ngannou last October but scrambled off the canvas to win a narrow points decision after 10 rounds. Ngannou's performance shocked the boxing world and he makes a quick turnaround tonight when he takes on former two-time world champion Joshua.
Joshua is expected to secure his fourth win in succession as he eyes a third reign as world champion with the winner of tonight's clash set to be handed a shot at the winner of Fury's meeting with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18. Here, we round up the predictions from the great and the good of boxing ahead of the heavyweight showdown...
Amir Khan
"Joshua is a very smart fighter and now they know what to expect against Ngannou, but I still think it will be a hard fight because Ngannou is going to have more confidence going into this fight. He thinks that he can hurt and knockout Joshua. I like Joshua and think he’s a great fighter but I think he’s more easier to hit than Fury."
Tyson Fury
"They’re both big strong guys, I think anyone can win it. They are both big punchers and not very hard to fit, so they can land and do damage. I’d like to back the former world heavyweight champion, but who the f*** am I to say anything? It’s a fight. f Francis wins, it sets up a massive rematch for me and Francis. If AJ wins it sets up a big British fight for me and him."
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Eddie Hearn
"I expect AJ to chop him down and you've got to put him to sleep really, have you seen the size of this guy? I was looking at his head and his neck, he is a beast. The most important thing for us that the winner of this fight will look to go on and fight the winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk. All we want to do is get a shot at undisputed."
Johnny Nelson
"The risk for Joshua is if he gets turned over by Ngannou then his career is done, because how can you swallow that? You're a two-time world heavyweight champion, you can't lose to him. I expect Joshua to get rid of him, I think he will do a better job than Fury did because he now has hindsight."
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Frazer Clarke
"I see AJ getting the win, in good fashion as well. The new focus we can see he's got is clear for everyone to see and he's doing really well under Ben Davison. I wish him nothing but the best, he's carried this country for a long time with the boxing. I think this time he will make a statement."
Fabio Wardley
"It's a great fight that came a bit out of left field. The fight that Ngannou had with Fury showed he's got a lot of capabilities and skills, he can perform in a boxing ring. For him to now match up with someone who is aesthetically and physically the same as him, seeing how those two things go together is going to be interesting."
Emanuel Odiase
"I think AJ stops Ngannou, I think there's levels to this. Joshua's fundamentals are too good and he isn't going to underestimate Ngannou because we've seen that he can be dangerous and has knockout power even though he is an MMA fighter. AJ, sixth round stoppage I think but maybe earlier."
Dan Hardy
“I absolutely think he can stop AJ. Ngannou will also be more confident than he was in the Fury fight. I think he will be a bit more of a bully in this fight, I think he can push AJ a bit more. If he catches AJ with that exact punch he put Fury down, AJ might get back up off the canvas and move around for the rest of the fight. He might not be as confident or as willing to engage as Fury was."
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