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Tag: Anthony Joshua

  • Heavyweight Boxing: Experts predictions as Anthony Joshua clash with Francis Ngannou in Riyadh

    Heavyweight Boxing: Experts predictions as Anthony Joshua clash with Francis Ngannou in Riyadh

    Rejuvenated and revamped British boxer, Anthony Joshua will tonight clash with crossover one capped heavyweight boxer, Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    Both boxers appear highly prepared and ready to make a statement with tonight’s bout.

    Ngannou made his boxing debut in the ring against heavyweight  champion Tyson Fury and lost controversially by  a close split decision, even dropping Fury with a left hook in Round 3.

    But, Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) defeated Wladimir Klitschko in April 2107 to win the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles. Joshua added the WBO belt by defeating Joseph Parker a year later but then lost the titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019.

    He regained them in the rematch six months later and made one defense before losing back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk.

    Joshua had been expected to face Deontay Wilder, but Wilder lost a unanimous decision to Parker in December, opening the door for Ngannou to step in.

    See Expert predictions

     

    Anthony Crolla (former lightweight world champion)

    “Myself, like many others, got it badly wrong last time. So many people wrote Ngannou off, he was trolled online over pad work and he was so much better than everybody thought. That uncertainty is gone and as a boxing fan it’s making you look forward to it even more. He pushed Tyson Fury so close, people thought he might have even won it. I think Joshua has got a little bit more to watch, they would have studied him.

    George Groves (former super middleweight world champion)

    “This fight has grown on me since it’s been made, I’ve done my investigations into Ngannou and I don’t think anybody is underestimating him this time around. I’m not a huge MMA/UFC fan but I’ve gathered he’s more a boxer than UFC fighter anyway. He can punch hard, apparently he’s the hardest punching person on the planet.

    “The pressure is on for AJ because he’s fighting an newbie boxer with a record of 0-1. He should have the class to go in there and box rings around Ngannou, but anything can happen. Ngannou might be twice as good this time because he’s had a double camp.

    Dan Hardy (former UFC fighter)

    “I think this is a much better fight for Francis Ngannou. Tyson Fury is tricky, he’s got good head movement, he’s smart, he’s wily, he’s got great footwork.

    “AJ is a great boxer, very technically sound, but he doesn’t move like Fury, he’s going to be more hittable for Ngannou. Ngannou has now also got 10 rounds of confidence because he knows he can fight for 10 rounds in a boxing ring, and that to him was a mystery in his first fight.

    Sean O’Malley (UFC bantamweight champion)

    “I think Francis can definitely beat Anthony Joshua.

    “His neck, his chin, he’s going to be hard to knock out and scary to sit in the pocket and trade with because he has insane power.

    “I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the win.”

    Dewey Cooper (Francis Ngannou’s trainer)

    “Our goal is domination, we’ve got to defend that right hand he likes to set up and be attentive to the jab.

    “I truly believe Francis can beat him outside and inside. My prediction? I said it at the press conference: the ferocious, furious, flaming, feisty fists of Francis Ngannou will finish Anthony Joshua.”

    The bout will take place by 11pm Nigerian time.

    TNG with additional information from Sky Sports

  • Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua test might against Francis Ngannou on Friday

    Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua test might against Francis Ngannou on Friday

    The much anticipated boxing bout between Francis Ngannou and  Anthony Joshua is just hours away, it will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by 11 pm Nigeria time on Friday night.

    The  10-round heavyweight fight taking place on  Friday  is loaded with undercard that  includes Zhilei Zhang vs Joseph Parker and Nick Ball’s world title fight against Rey Vargas, at  Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Friday.

    Recall that Ngannou made his debut in October, losing via split decision to WBC world champion Fury in a non-title bout.

    The Cameroonian-French fighter almost delivered an upset when he dropped Fury to the canvas with a left hook in that fight.

    Speaking ahead of this match, Ngannou said “I feel confident enough, based on my training, the hard work that I put in,” Ngannou said in his pre-fight press conference on Wednesday.

    “It [fight against Fury] was a good experience and it definitely guided me better to have proper training.

    “Every space I have open, I am going to hit … I am not going to leave any stone unturned and any opportunity unexplored.”

    Much of the pre-fight narrative is presuming a win for Joshua that would put him in line to fight Fury, provided Fury – the WBC champion – beats Oleksandr Usyk – the WBA, IBF and WBO champion – in their rearranged May 18 bout that will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000.

    Ngannou is ready to make more headlines in his fast-track bid to become a boxing champion so soon after dominating the UFC scene.

    “I’ve exposed myself – the guy who is coming next time [Joshua] knows what to deal with,” Ngannou said after arriving in Riyadh.

    “I’ve lost that element of surprise. So how can I surprise him again? What can I pull from my sleeve once again?”

    Ngannou, who has a 17-3 mixed martial arts record with 12 victories by knockout, will once again be the underdog when he faces two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua, but the Briton said he would not make the mistake of underestimating his less-experienced opponent.

    “He’s been boxing. His first dream was to be a boxer, which people forget. He was part of the Cameroonian team,” Joshua told reporters.

    “I know what I am up against, I look at all of these small details. I spar, I do my film study, all that type of stuff.”

  • Anthony Joshua to go against Francis Ngannou in Saudi showdown

    Anthony Joshua to go against Francis Ngannou in Saudi showdown

    Anthony Joshua, the famous British-Nigerian boxer is gearing up for a showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    The announcement was made by Matchroom and Queensberry on Friday night in a post via their X account, with further details to be confirmed next week.

    “Confirmed: #anthonyjoshua vs #francis_ngannou is signed to take place during #RiyadhSeason” the statement read.

    “#Fight date and Kick-off press conference details to be released next week! #JoshuaNgannou.”

    A press conference has been set for the 15th of January.

    Although he was supposed to face Deontay Wilder on March 09, Joshua has his sights focused on Ngannou, who rose in the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings after his debut boxing match.

    The upcoming showdown follows Joshua’s dominant win over Otto Wallin on December 23.

  • ‘Now I’ll rip Deontay Wilder apart’ – Anthony Joshua boasts after victory against Walin

    ‘Now I’ll rip Deontay Wilder apart’ – Anthony Joshua boasts after victory against Walin

    Shortly after defeating Otto Walin by Technical Knockout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua said of Deontay Wilder that he “could rip him apart” as the boxer known as  ‘Bronze Bomber’ lost to Joseph Parker.
    Noticing that the fighter couldn’t carry on, Walin’s corner threw in the towel at stoppage between the fifth and sixth rounds, thus making it three wins from three in 2023 after he came back from back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk,.
    Asked to rate his performance against Walin, Joshua explained that it was his trainer who would give him the verdict on his showing.
    Recall that the Brit hired trainer,  Ben Davison for the fight against the Swede.
    He said: “I can’t rate my performance. Ben Davison, my performance team, I’ll leave it up to them.”
    He then described it as, “just another fight. I respect Otto. Not so much a throwback fight, just another day in the office.”
    Continuing, he added that he just wanted to be a victorious fighter for as long as possible.
    “Victory by any means. Like Otto, you want to do whatever it takes to be victorious. That’s all I want to be.
    “I was looking on the roster of heavyweights that have been on this card. I’ve fought Otto, fought Parker, was going to fight Baby Miller. I’ve been around the block.”
    Asked about the finish to the fight, Joshua paid tribute to Wallin, before adding:
    “It is all about your vision, your timing and your reaction. I am just a gifted fighter that has a special gift and I use it to the best of my ability. I work hard – extremely hard. And if it works, it works and today it was my day, thanks god.
    Turning to Wilder, who had attempted to heap the pressure on Joshua in the week before the fight, he said he did not watch the defeat to Parker, that throws their planned fight into disarray.
    He said: “I wasn’t watching. I just focused on myself. I know how important it was for me. I heard that Deontay lost. So what? He’ll be back.
    “Deontay, everything that he said about me, I could rip him apart right now, but I’m going to take the higher ground.”
    With Tyson Fury yet to fight Usyk for the undisputed status, there could be some wait for Joshua to get another shot at the title, though he may fight Filip Hrgovic to put himself in position for a chance.
    Discussing becoming a three-time champion, he said: “That would be great. Every fight leads to a final destination. Keep on praying and working hard. I’ve got to stay focused because I’m on a journey and it’s hard.”
    Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn was effusive over his fighter.
    He proclaimed: “He’s back, they told me, Ben Davison and his team, he’s back. He’s destroying people in sparring, he’s punching people so hard. I believe that Anthony Joshua is the best heavyweight in the world. That was a punch-perfect performance against Otto Wallin, [who] is an excellent heavyweight.
    “He absolutely dispatched him. He broke him down, he broke his nose, he broke his body, he broke his eye. It was a stunning performance. I think he’s unbeatable, 2024 is going to be a massive year for him.”
    Hearn believes that Croatian fighter Hrgovic is the next choice for a match-up as he anticipated the proposed Wilder fight now to be unlikely.
    “It was a tough decision between the championship and Deontay Wilder,” he added. “He signed for Wilder, he lost tonight, that’s OK, it happens in boxing. Maybe it’s a blessing because really he wants championships, and now Otto Wallin is No. 2 in the division, it’s going to be Hrgovic against AJ for the world title to see him be a three-time world champion. Every heavyweight should be on notice, he’s back.”
  • Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua beat Walin by TKO, Deontay Wilder beaten by parker in Saudi Arabia

    Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua beat Walin by TKO, Deontay Wilder beaten by parker in Saudi Arabia

    British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua a former unified heavyweight champion, cruised to a win in his third fight of the year, beating Otto Walin by TKO in the fifth round in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    . This was Joshua’s third win in a row, following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in previuos years.

    Wallin whose only loss was to Tyson Fury in 2019 by unanimous decision has now suffered his career’s second defeat to Anthony Joshua.

    However, speaking at Friday’s weigh-in, Joshua remains focused on Saturday’s fight and knows that without dispatching the Swede, he might not have a future in the sport.
    “As I always say, let me focus on what I’ve got to focus on,” he told TNT Sports. “Without Saturday night there is no future.
    “Saturday night, as I’ve been saying all week, that’s been my main focus. Whatever happens in the ring, that’s where my heart is. I need to get this win.”
    On the event in Riyadh, Joshua added: “This is the best fight card in history and I’m here with you guys. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world right now.
    “If my prayers are answered I’ll get the win. I’ve been focussed, praying hard and whatever god wants from me,
    I’ll follow that path, who knows? I’m making sure it’s not just prayer, I’m following up by action as well.”
    Wallin, who went the distance with Tyson Fury in 2019, was confident of providing an upset when quizzed over his blueprint to beat Joshua.
    “I think by being myself,” he answered. “I’m a smart fighter, I’m a southpaw, I’ve trained for this moment for a very, very long time. I’m very much ready for it.
    “We see tomorrow. All I know is tomorrow there’s going to be a new king and he’s from Sweden.”

    Elsewhere, In another heavyweight boxing bout, Joseph Parker pulled off a shocking upset victory over Deontay Wilder. Parker, who like Wilder is a former heavyweight champion, won by unanimous decision.

    With the win Parker (34-3, 23 KOs), the former WBO title holder, has now won four consecutive bouts. Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs), the former WBC titleholder, was competing for the first time since October 2022.

    Also on the card, Dmitry Bivol successfully defended his WBA light heavyweight title against Lyndon Arthur picking up a unanimous decision win, and Daniel Dubois beat Jarrell Miller via 10th-round TKO to get back in the win column.

    Here’s Mike Coppinger and Nick Parkinson’s takes on all the action at ‘Day of Reckoning’.

  • Anthony Joshua opens up on living with mom

    Anthony Joshua opens up on living with mom

    Popular British-Nigerian professional boxer, Anthony Joshua has explained  why he still lives with his mother at the age of 34.

    Recall that Anthony Joshua relocated to his mother’s  two-bedroom former council apartment in 2017 shortly after defeating Wladimir Klitschko

    The boxer in an interview with Louis Theroux said that it would be difficult for his prospective partner to get him to move out.

    Joshua made it known that he shares very close ties with his family.

    “I still live with my mom. In our culture, we grew up in our own family home, we support our parents.

    “Why am I going to move out and leave my mom by herself, for some girl? Family is the most important thing. When a girl gets with me, she ain’t just marrying me, she is marrying my family.”

  • Heavyweight boxing: Joshua, Ngannou billed for December 23 – Hearn

    Heavyweight boxing: Joshua, Ngannou billed for December 23 – Hearn

    Nigeria-British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua will face  fighter Francis Ngannou on December 23 if all paper works are formalized.

    The Cameroonian-French professional mixed martial artist became a professional boxer recently and made his debut last Sunday against Tyson Fury but lost due to judges split decision.

    The ‘Gypsy King’ was spared what would have been one of the biggest upsets of all time after the night ended in a highly unconvincing split decision win over the 37-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion.

    Ngannou’s third-round knockdown of Fury, who was lacklustre throughout, sent shock waves around the world.

    However, boxing promoter, Hearn disclosed to  BBC that he had been in touch with Ngannou’s representatives, saying “All of a sudden that fight between two giants, they’re carved out of stone, it becomes a massive fight. We’re definitely willing to consider it.”

    Despite losing due to judges’ spit decision, the boxer has been viewed as a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division  following his fight with Tyson Fury last weekend in Saudi Arabia.

    Joshua is still in a rebuilding phase of his career after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. That left Joshua without any of his belts and has come back with a steady points win over American Jermaine Franklyn in April followed by a seventh-round knockout victory over Robert Helenius in August.

    Speaking to Boxing News on Friday, Hearn was asked about whether his former two-time world champion would face Ngannou.

    “We’d take that fight on December 23, no problem.”

    He then explained Joshua is already looking to fight again before the end of the year.

    “We’re looking at that date for Joshua anyway. Maybe I’ll reach out to them and say listen, if you’re looking for an opponent for Francis Ngannou, AJ’s ready, on December 23, no problem at all. I’d like more time promotionally to make that fight what it is, one of the biggest fights out there, but no problem.”

     

  • Anthony Joshua beats Helenius with seventh round knockout

    Anthony Joshua beats Helenius with seventh round knockout

    Former heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua p, beat Finnish stand-in, Robert Helenius, with a seventh round single-punch knockout on Saturday.

    The win for Joshua meant he kept himself on track for a lucrative payday against American Deontay Wilder next year.

    Helenius, stepping in after Britain’s Dillian Whyte was ruled out of the non-title fight by a dope test a week ago, lasted longer than expected.

    But he crashed to the canvas one minute and 27 seconds into the round.

    Some of the crowd at London’s 02, who had grown restless with some booing already in the third round, were heading for the exit by then as Joshua failed to deliver immediate fireworks.

    The big Briton looked nervous and stiff at the start and strangely tentative when Helenius, who fought in Finland only a week ago, appeared to be out on his legs and ready for the taking.

    Joshua climbed straight out of the ring without saying a word after referee Victor Loughlin stopped the contest.

    He then fist-bumped fans, stopping to share a swig of a drink with watching former UFC champion Conor McGregor, before stepping back inside the ropes.

    Helenius meanwhile received medical attention and some oxygen before getting back on his feet.

    “I knew this would happen, everyone’s talking about the new AJ and the old AJ.

    “And after two or three rounds the crowd starts to get a little bit impatient.

    “He finds the measure of his right hand and he delivers one of the knockouts of the year on Robert Helenius… this is just the AJ you’re going to see now.

    “He’s still got to be more aggressive than we saw tonight but there’s a lot on the line,” Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told reporters.

    The knockout was the 23rd of Joshua’s career, taking his record to 26 wins and three defeats, but his first since December 2020.

    This was when he beat Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in a WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO title defence in London.

    Joshua lost those belts to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021.

    There has been talk of Joshua fighting Wilder, the former WBC champion, next year.

    But the Briton needs to keep winning to be talked about in the same breath as the American and reigning champion, Tyson Fury.

    “It’s hard for him to get up for fights like this. The Wilder fights, the Fury fights, that’s what he wants,” said Hearn.

  • Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua versus Dillian Whyte bout cancelled over drugs

    Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua versus Dillian Whyte bout cancelled over drugs

    British boxer of Nigeria descent. Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight rematch against Dillian Whyte scheduled for next week Saturday at London’s O2 Arena has been cancelled after Whyte returned an ‘adverse finding’ to a random doping test.

    The future looks much less clear for Whyte, 35, following this episode, his third run-in with anti-doping authorities. In a statement he said he was ‘shocked and devastated’ by the positive test and vowed to ‘prove that I am completely innocent.’

    Recall that Whyte served a two-year ban after testing positive for the banned stimulant Methylhexanamine following a win over Hungary’s Sandor Balogh in October 2012.

    However, boxing promoter is looking forward to securing the date with another worthy opponent for Joshua.

    In 2019, he was charged by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after a sample provided in June that year showed the presence of two metabolites of a banned steroid, Dianabol. The charge was later withdrawn due to the ‘extremely low’ levels of the metabolites.

    “I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by Vada of adverse findings relating to me,” Whyte wrote in a statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    “I only learned of it this morning and am still reacting to it.

    “I have also just seen that the fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken.

    “I can confirm without a shadow of doubt that I have not taken the reported substance, in this camp or at any point in my life.

    “I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by media.”

    Whyte, who lost his only world title challenge to Tyson Fury in 2022, beat Joshua by decision as an amateur in 2009 to start what became a bitter rivalry.

    Olympic gold medallist Joshua went on to become a two-time world champion.

  • Heavyweight Boxing: Deontay Wilder speaks on clash with Anthony Joshua in December

    Heavyweight Boxing: Deontay Wilder speaks on clash with Anthony Joshua in December

    American heavyweight boxer, Deontay Wilder has confirmed that the clash between him and Anthony Joshua will happen in December.

    The much anticipated clash between both heavyweight boxers have generated a lot of reactions from their fans on social media.

    Talks are also ongoing for Wilder to take an interim fight against Andy Ruiz, though these appear to have reached a stalemate.

    ‘The Bronze Bomber’ assured 78SportsTV that the blockbuster bout with Joshua in the Middle East is definitely happening.

    “We coming baby, soon! The next fight, we’ve been working very hard, you’ve seen me training. It’s always been Ruiz, but if he doesn’t want to accept it then we will move on, or maybe hold out until the Joshua fight, because that’s definitely going down.

    “Y’all need to get your money ready for that,” he said.

    Skill Challenge Promotions are determined to stage Wilder vs Joshua, even if they can’t agree a deal for an undisputed showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on the same show, which now looks to be off the table for December, as per Fury’s promoter Frank Warren.

    Wilder could be forgiven for perhaps wanting a fight before taking on Joshua, given he has not boxed since his one round demolition of Robert Helenius in October of last year.

    Joshua is well accustomed to fighting in Saudi Arabia, which played host to both his successful rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr back 2019 and his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last summer.

    Wilder has never boxed in Saudi himself, though he was seen in attendance at the Tommy Fury vs Jake Paul fight in February, where it is speculated that early talks for a fight with Joshua could have occurred.

    However, Joshua has been billed to fight Dillian Whyte on August 12 in Saudi Arabia.