Frank Warren has warned Anthony Joshua that he has “everything to lose” when he enters the ring to face former MMA star Francis Ngannou in March in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou produced a stunning performance in his debut in the boxing ring as he knocked down Tyson Fury in October. The Cameroonian lost the bout but Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn also warned that he is a “dangerous” opponent.
Frank Warren has told TNT Sports that Anthony Joshua has “everything to lose” when he steps into the ring with former MMA star Francis Ngannou.
The two fighters are scheduled for a bout on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou stunned the boxing world with his debut performance in the ring against world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October. The Cameroonian knocked down Fury in the third round but the Brit went on to win the fight on a split-decision.
Joshua also impressed in his last fight where he stopped American Otto Wallin in the fifth round in Saudi Arabia last month.
Speaking to TNT Sports expert Steve Bunce in the ‘When Frank Met Eddie’ show, Warren and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn discussed the upcoming fight and both men are expecting Ngannou to impress once again.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Hearn when asked about Ngannou’s display against Fury. “I was in Mexico and everyone was messaging me saying: ‘Are you watching this? He’s just dropped him.’
“I got it so wrong. I thought it was a mismatch and the fight was a farce and I was so wrong. Tyson might have been a little below par but Ngannou comes in as a debutant and I know he’s a stand-up fighter in MMA but it’s not professional boxing.
“It was unbelievable. I just didn’t believe in any sporting arena that a novice in that field could go in and even compete with the top of the top.
“Imagine any other sport where someone could just go on with a little bit of similar experience and I thought he was unbelievable.
“The dangerous thing about Francis Ngannou is that he really believes. He believed that he could beat Fury then, imagine what he’s believing now.
“Now we’ve got tape of Francis Ngannou, only 10 rounds. It must be difficult going in fighting a guy that you’ve never seen box before.”
Warren added: “Tyson wasn’t at his best that night, he trained hard for it but he wasn’t at his best. AJ has everything to lose in this fight. He’s come off a really good win, looked good, done the business in style and he’ll be the favourite on the night.
“Having said that, you know the fella can whack, he can punch. It’s going to be interesting to see how it develops. I want AJ to win.”
Three weeks prior to the showdown between Joshua and Ngannou, Oleksandr Usyk will face off against Fury to decide who will be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
