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Boxing

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: Keys to victory for both fighters

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: Keys to victory for both fightersMatchroom
The heavyweight showdown is almost here.

An intriguing heavyweight fight is set to take place on Friday when former world champion Anthony Joshua takes on MMA superstar Francis Ngannou. 

After Ngannou gave a credible performance against WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in his professional boxing debut last October, it was inevitable that Ngannou and Joshua would be on a collision course. 

However, no one expected it to come this soon, and now Joshua is entering a contest which could be a banana skin in his quest to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. 

Here, DAZN takes a look at how both fighters could get the win in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Anthony Joshua

Treat Ngannou with respect

It's a message which has been reiterated frequently by respected voices in the sport including Anthony Joshua's trainer Ben Davison.

When Francis Ngannou stepped into the ring against Tyson Fury, no one gave him a remote chance of causing an upset, but after managing to knock Fury down in the third round in the split decision loss, the former UFC star has made himself a credible contender in the heavyweight division. 

Joshua has a slight advantage compared to Fury because he now has 10 rounds of footage to dissect when it comes to how Ngannou will operate inside the ring, but that does not mean Ngannou may not have some more tricks in his locker, therefore Joshua will need to treat his rival just like any high profile opponent and not take for granted Ngannou's lack of experience inside the ring. 

Use the ring to your advantage

It's likely that Ngannou will look to bring Joshua into the centre of the ring to give himself the best chance of winning. 

However, this could play into Joshua's hands. The British star has been boxing in the professional ranks for 11 years and his wealth of experience in terms of moving around the ring could prove key come fight night. 

The ideal strategy for Joshua would be to land a few heavy punches before moving out of range and forcing Ngannou to come forward. If Joshua is able to do this successfully, there is a chance Ngannou could get tired which could give the British fighter an opportunity to bring the fight to an early end with a knockout. 

Showcase punching power

Following the win over Otto Wallin in December, Joshua received significant praise for a performance which was hark back to those that made him one of boxing's biggest stars. 

If Joshua can do something similar against Ngannou, it is likely to swing the fight in his favour with the former UFC heavyweight champion's chin yet to be tested significantly in the ring. 

Therefore, Joshua needs to land spiteful and aggressive punches when possible to wear Ngannou down before landing the final blow or give himself a comfortable lead on the judges' scorecards. 

Francis Ngannou

Use physical size to frustrate Joshua

Ngannou will present a unique challenge to Joshua come fight night. 

The former UFC star is arguably the biggest opponent Joshua has faced inside a boxing ring and Ngannou needs to use his physical size to frustrate the British fighter. 

It is likely that the two heavyweights will go toe-to-toe in centre of the ring, therefore, Ngannou needs to find ways of using his size during clinches to nullify the threat Joshua poses and tire him out before looking for a potential knockout. 

Test Joshua's chin 

One of the reasons this fight has generated a lot of interest is because of the punching power both men possess. 

Ngannou showed that he can trouble the world's best with his power after knocking down Fury back in October, and there is no doubt he will look to do the same against Joshua. 

There has been evidence in past fights that Joshua sometimes struggles when hit, most notably against Andy Ruiz Jr five years ago, who despite being the smaller man, managed to stop the British star to produce a monumental upset. 

If Ngannou is able to land with a number of power shots, there is a chance Joshua could buckle and give the Cameroonian the upper hand in Riyadh. 

Enjoy the occasion, there is no pressure

Just like the Fury fight, there is no pressure on Ngannou when he steps in the ring against Joshua. 

All the pressure rests on the shoulders of the former world champion who is expected to beat an opponent who has lost on their professional debut.  

Ngannou is in a rare position that despite losing, he has now become one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division, and regardless of the result, Ngannou will still be linked with big fights in the future.

Therefore, Ngannou has the freedom to enjoy this showdown with Joshua which could work in his favour against someone whose place at the top table is on the line in this contest. 

Live on DAZN PPV: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou on March 8. Click here for details and how to purchase

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