Eddie Hearn expects Anthony Joshua to be too much for Francis Ngannou in their upcoming boxing bout.

Both men have agreed on a deal to fight on March 8/9th, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Joshua arrives into the fight with a stoppage win over Otto Wallin. He was expected to face Deontay Wilder, but the latter’s loss to Joseph Parker prevented that fight. Ngannou steps in as he also has plenty to prove.

His boxing debut against Tyson Fury earned him much praise as he dropped the WBC heavyweight champion in the third round with a sweeping left hook and took the fight to the end. Although he lost via a split decision, some in the boxing community, including Hearn, felt he was the deserved winner. But this time around, he expects Joshua to be too much.

Hearn On Joshua

“I fancy the fight. You’ve heard me say before, I really believe AJ knocks him out. But he’s a dangerous fight. I know that this guy’s a big, big lump that can really punch, and I think he has no fear, which makes him dangerous. But I just feel like AJ’s in a great place, and I expect him to pick him apart and knock him out,” Hearn said 

Ngannou is also coming into the fight with much confidence. After the Fury loss, he was very vocal about trying to get the Fury rematch. The Gypsy King, however, decided to face Oleksandr Usyk for undisputed. But with Joshua in his way, there is a chance that a win will get him that rematch.

He expressed his feeling that Joshua does not have the best chin, giving him the confidence to secure a stoppage. Andy Ruiz Jr. and Wladimir Klitschko have noticeably stopped Joshua and dropped him. He would get up and beat Klitschko, but those vulnerabilities were there for Ngannou to see.

Ngannou On Joshua

"I think I will have a better response in front of him that will put him not in such a comfortable position. Things will change. It’s going to be different. I will not just stay there and look at him. It’s going to be different. I’m going to throw some bombs out there for him to deal with. I think he’s going to be mindful of what he’s doing. If AJ takes the punch that Fury took, I don’t guarantee that he’s standing up. I’ve heard that he doesn’t have a chin. I’m going to find out. [Laughs.]” Ngannou stated 

Either way, the pressure is off Ngannou. He is the underdog and has already been ranked in the top ten by the WBC. The fight will also give him the chance to secure another big purse, earning more than what he earned for his whole UFC career, something which the Fury fight did. If Ngannou manages to pull off an upset, he will be in the conversation for a world title fight.

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