Thanks to the Saudis, Francis Ngannou will face Anthony Joshua in a boxing match on March 8 in Riyadh. After his historic performance in his one-point split-decision loss to boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury last October, he is set to face former champion Anthony Joshua in only his second professional boxing match.

After losing his titles to former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua has been rebuilding his confidence and skills. He has fought and won three times since then, knocking out Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker. Ahead of the Ngannou fight, he spoke to Ariel Helwani on his ‘MMA Hour’ show about his thoughts on the fight and his opinion of ‘The Predator’ as a man and a fighter.

‘AJ’ prepares for “war” without underrating Francis Ngannou

Ariel Helwani asked Anthony Joshua whether he felt any pride in fighting a fellow African fighter. ‘AJ’ admitted that there was but pointed out that he is looking to go to war with Francis Ngannou and knock him out, and was preparing mentally and physically for it.

“There is. But right now no lives matter. See it’s a straight war, I’ll be real with you. It’s war. There’s no friends at war. I respect the guy and that he’s done well, and all that good stuff. But we’re fighting and I have to get my mind in shape for what’s about to happen,” the Olympic gold medallist said.

Going into the Fury fight, Ngannou’s boxing abilities were dismissed by almost everyone, including Joshua, who had deemed the crossover fight a “circuit”. However, after his spectacular performance against ‘The Gypsy King’, the former UC heavyweight champion proved that he belongs in the boxing ring and earned the respect of his critics, including Joshua.

“Yeah, yeah, definitely. He’s always wanted to be a boxer, he’s got standup game. Yeah, I respect him as a boxer, I have to,” Joshua added. Underestimating Ngannou would be a huge mistake as Fury found out and Joshua seems to have learned this lesson as he gears up to face the Cameroonian in a virtual title eliminator.

Joshua-Ngannou winner likely to fight for undisputed title next

Anthony Joshua lost his WBA, IBF, and WBO titles to Oleksandr Usyk, who successfully defended them in their rematch. Joshua looked lost and uncertain before and after those losses. However, after Joshua changed his team, replacing long-time coach Rob McCracken with Andy Lee, who has also coached Fury, he seems a different, more ruthless, and almost angry fighter.

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The former champion looks ready to reclaim his titles, and this fight against Ngannou is being seen as a virtual title eliminator. With Fury-Usyk set for February 17, the winner of which will be the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, it is pretty likely the undisputed champion will face the winner of Joshua-Ngannou next.

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