Francis Ngannou’s latest venture into professional boxing didn’t unfold as expected. The former UFC heavyweight champion found himself knocked out by Anthony Joshua in the second round of an extravagant event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last Friday.
The manner of his defeat has raised doubts about Ngannou’s future in boxing, prompting discussions about whether he should return to mixed martial arts. This speculation comes after Ngannou signed a lucrative deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) last year.
Dillian Whyte, a British heavyweight who has contemplated facing Ngannou in the boxing ring himself, pointed out that the technical flaws exhibited by the MMA star in his narrow loss to Tyson Fury last year were glaringly evident in his brutal knockout defeat to Joshua.
“Francis is not skilled enough to compete with the top fighters,” Whyte told Sky Sports. “He may have performed decently against Fury, but Fury didn’t take him seriously. Fury assumed he could outbox him, and while Ngannou did pose some challenges, that was his downfall.”
According to Whyte, Ngannou’s confidence was inflated by his performance against Fury, leading him to underestimate Joshua’s power. Whyte anticipated Ngannou’s stationary stance and lack of head movement would be exploited by Joshua, ultimately resulting in the knockout.
Ngannou’s decision to switch to a southpaw stance late in the first round was also criticized by Whyte as a tactical error, as it opened up opportunities for Joshua to land devastating blows.
“AJ is a heavy hitter, and you can’t simply stand in front of him with your guard down, especially not by changing stances mid-fight against a right-handed puncher,” Whyte explained. “Ngannou’s boxing training isn’t conventional, and he hasn’t mastered the fundamentals. In contrast, Joshua, with his extensive experience and training regimen, proved too much for Ngannou.”
Meanwhile, Whyte is gearing up for his own return to the ring, facing veteran heavyweight Christian Hammer in Castlebar, Ireland, on Sunday. Despite being out of action for 16 months, Whyte remains determined to reclaim his position among the elite in the heavyweight division.
“I’ve been eager to return to Ireland for some time. I have family ties here, and they’ll be able to attend the fight,” Whyte said. “Christian Hammer is a tough opponent with plenty of experience. It’s a challenging fight, especially after my extended hiatus. But I’m focused on pursuing the world title and proving myself against the best in the division.”
