Anthony Joshua will need to beat Francis Ngannou on Friday to help make the most anticipated fight in boxing with Tyson Fury happen. One retired boxing great believes he has a quality that will fuel his win.
Former two-division world champion Ricky Hatton emerged from the shadows of retirement to chime in on the upcoming Joshua-Ngannou bout.
Hatton spoke highly of both boxers. While he acknowledged Ngannou’s surreal power, the former 2005 Fighter of the Year is rolling with Joshua despite shortcomings that have followed him throughout his championship contention.
Hatton sees an intangible trait as being the difference maker for his British compatriot.
Hatton believes Anthony will set up mega-bout with Tommy Fury
Hatton spoke with Inside Casino on the pay-per-view bout that’s now less than four days away. He cited Joshua’s confidence as a factor that will trump his chin against the former UFC heavyweight champion.
“He [Joshua] doesn’t have the lateral movement of Tyson Fury, so he’s going to be standing in front of Francis Ngannou, which worries me a little bit because if AJ does cop one, that could be that. But I’m going to go with AJ based on his confidence and his new team. I think he’ll have enough firepower to shine against Ngannou,” Hatton declared.
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It’s been a rollercoaster stretch for Joshua, who has gone 3-2 in his last five fights. While the former heavyweight champion has won three straight, he hasn’t fully shaken a lasting reputation for succumbing to hard hits.
Ngannou managed to knock down Fury in his first professional boxing match. The unheard of feat makes him a threat to put any fighter to sleep. That may not bode well for “AJ.”
Despite that, Hatton is sure that Joshua’s self-belief and ring presence will amplify his experience advantage over the Cameroonian mixed martial artist.
The 45-year-old also stated that Joshua vs. Fury would be the “biggest fight in British history.” He claimed that Fury would need to be at the top of his game to best a fighter in Joshua who seemingly has his “mojo” back.
Friday night’s showdown will carry huge implications for the division. It will be a battle of styles between both behemoths. Hatton would know better than most if Joshua can use his swagger and speed to outlast or even knock out Ngannou in a potential slugfest.
