On March 8th, the combat sports world will witness yet another monumental crossover event. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou steps into the boxing ring against the two-time former unified heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. With the event taking place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, we look at the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill to give our Joshua vs. Ngannou predictions.
Joshua vs. Ngannou Predictions
It’s a clash of the titans, and here are our predictions for the upcoming bout between Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou.
Joshua as the Clear Winner
Make no mistake, AJ is a huge favourite here. But let’s not forget what we witnessed from Ngannou against Tyson Fury back in October. The Cameroonian beast floored the Gypsy King and was a couple rounds away from pulling off the biggest upset this side of Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson. While he ultimately came up short via split decision, Ngannou showed he could more than hang at the elite level of boxing.
Despite this, Joshua still should get the upper hand thanks to his superior boxing techniques. Joshua’s footwork and combination punches will allow him to systematically take down the powerful but one-dimensional Ngannou. The Brit’s jab is going to be an absolute nightmare for Ngannou in this one.
Once he starts to tire, Joshua will go in for the kill. Ngannou won’t go down easily. But against a veteran like Joshua, he’s out of his depth.
Joshua to Win by TKO
Despite Ngannou’s impressive standoff against Fury, oddsmakers have Joshua at 1.53 odds of winning via knockout. Joshua holds a career record of 27 victories, 24 of which ended with knockouts.
AJ has dynamite in both hands and a seemingly bottomless gas tank to drag fights into the deep waters before drowning opponents with strikes. His engine and relentless pressure style have proven to be a nightmare for even the most durable heavyweights over the years. We expect that’s how this one will end as well.
Joshua vs. Ngannou Odds
Looking at the Joshua vs. Ngannou odds, bookmaker William Hill has Joshua as a sizable 1.28 favourite in this bout. His experience in the boxing ring puts him as the safer bet. But at 3.75, Ngannou presents some serious value as an underdog puncher’s chance. One clean strike could easily end Joshua’s night in Riyadh.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: March 6th, 11:30 A.M. (GMT)
No matter where you place your money, Joshua vs. Ngannou is shaping up to be an explosive clash of combat sports titans. Will Ngannou yet again defy expectations? Be sure to tune in on March 8th for what certainly promises to be a knockout chaos, and to see whether our Joshua vs. Ngannou predictions hold up.
