Francis Ngannou gives intriguing response when asked who would win between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Francis Ngannou has given his view on who he thinks would win out of a heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

In Saudi Arabia, Joshua knocked Ngannou to the canvas on three separate occasions as he won in the second round as the referee intervened and ended the contest with victory for the former.

The win was the 34-year-old's 28th victory out of 31 professional fights, 25 of which have been through knockouts, and three losses.

Former UFC star Ngannou has lost both of his professional boxing bouts, which came against Fury and now Joshua, though the former fight was a controversial split decision in which the 37-year-old floored the Gypsy King to the canvas.

Speaking after the fight, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who manages Joshua's career, wants to see his fighter take on the victor of the upcoming heavyweight clash between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, the latter of whom has beaten Joshua twice.

Speaking to DAZN, Hearn said: "I'm so proud of him because there was a huge amount of pressure.

"If we won this fight then he would fight the winner of Fury v Usyk. You're looking at the number one heavyweight in the world.

"Tyson Fury please beat Usyk because you will get the biggest fight in the history of the sport. As a fighter, he's an inspiration to young people.

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"What I said would happen, happened. He destroyed Francis Ngannou. He's a beast and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury."

Fury himself admits that Joshua 'did absolutely fantastic' in his victory against Ngannou, but warned that if he faces AJ after the Gypsy King beats Usyk, he warned the Olympic gold medallist it will be a 'different game'.

Having lost to both Fury and now Joshua, Ngannou is well qualified to give his view on which fighter he feels would come out on top of the pair were to clash in the ring.

And Ngannou admitted that though he was not sure, he would give the victory to Joshua at this present moment as he explained why the Watford-born fighter was able to defeat him.

Speaking to iFL TV after his loss, Ngannou said: "I don’t know, I would give it to AJ for right now.

"I think he got the right timing. It was about the timing, mostly."

Should Fury beat Usyk, then it would surely set up a mouth-watering clash against Joshua, one which boxing fans have wanted to see for many years.

Topics: Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou, Tyson Fury, Eddie Hearn, Boxing, Heavyweight Boxing

John McDougall