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Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will meet in a heavyweight clash live on Sky Sports Box Office on Friday March 8; scroll down for booking information – how and when to book via remote or online

Anthony Joshua dismissed suggestions that Francis Ngannou is a ‘gimmick’ opponent and believes the former UFC champion was wrongly denied a victory over Tyson Fury.

Joshua has won his last three fights, the most recent against Otto Wallin in a dominant five-round win in December, and will face Ngannou in their non-title contest in Friday’s crossover super-fight in Saudi Arabia, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

The mixed martial arts star made his professional boxing debut in October last year where he knocked down Tyson Fury in the third round only to be denied victory as Fury escaped with a contentious split-decision win.

“I was watching the Fury and Ngannou fight from home and from what I saw I thought he won,” Joshua told Sky Sports.

“It’s not a gimmick, it’s not something that’s benefiting the broadcasters, it’s not just a fight for entertainment purposes.

How to watch and live stream Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou | Goal.com  Uganda

“This is a serious fight with someone who is prepared and understands the dynamic of boxing and he’s putting up a good fight against the apparently generational great. So, I look at it now as something completely different.

“To be classified as a world-class heavyweight I would say that you have to stay there for a period of time. But I think that he’s an athlete with a lot of potential.

“I think he should stay in boxing in my opinion, he’s got great potential to make waves.

READ MORE ;Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou LIVE: Latest boxing news, fight time, TV channel

“In terms of the word ‘gimmick’ we can get rid of that. In terms of the whole crossover aspect of what boxing is, it’s not that Ngannou was a gimmick or Fury was a gimmick, but the whole MMA crossing over into boxing I looked at it as a gimmick, but now I can see that there are certain fighters in the MMA world that can box, and he’s one of them.

“It’s good news for us fighters and good news for broadcasters because they’ve got me and Ngannou going at it in a few days.”

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Live Stream, Predictions, Match Card,  and Betting Odds

Great Britain’s Joshua suffered successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk before winning his three consecutive fights whilst Ngannou was the reigning UFC heavyweight champion before he left the promotion to begin his boxing career and has 17 wins and three losses from his time in MMA.

“My mentality is that I’m fighting a talented fighter, like every fight there is massive jeopardy and I’ve got to take it seriously,” Joshua continued.

“At the time I looked at it more as a benefit for the broadcasters and sponsors. Now I look at it as someone who is serious about fighting, serious about MMA and serious about boxing.

“That’s why I’m here, because I love the same thing he does, I love to fight. When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury I thought: ‘He knows what he’s doing, he can handle himself.’

“A lot of people say he won the fight and I thought this is a great challenge for me because I need to figure out more about myself, if it’s not a challenge then I am going to stick to what I know best and I’m going to stay in my comfort zone.

“But when I saw the fight he put up against Fury, I thought this is a challenge which has driven me to push on and push on from my career so it’s going to have massive benefits for me in the long-run as well.”

Before Fury fought Ngannou, he said the whole of boxing’s reputation is on his shoulders, but Joshua doesn’t feel that kind of pressure.

Anthony Joshua says a fight with Tyson Fury is 'part of God's plan in my  life' | UK News | Sky News

“I haven’t thought of it that way because it’s only my pressure. I don’t put that pressure on myself and I don’t have that thought about anything. I just think about winning and doing what I need to do, that’s my mentality,” Joshua added.

“It’s a fight, it’s a 50/50 fight. Anything can happen. Crazier things have happened before. It is what it is. It’s a great opportunity for me to go back to work. If I didn’t take this opportunity that’s presented to me, when would I be fighting next?

RELATED ;Anthony Joshua tells John Fury ‘I’ve watched everything you’ve said’ as they meet ahead of Francis Ngannou fight

“When you look at it, I’m not at the start of my career, I’m not at the middle of my career, I’d say I’m probably towards the end of my career.

“Call it whatever you want to call it, I’m just happy to be at work and doing my job and I can’t wait for the next opportunity that presents itself.”

When is the fight and how can I book?

Tyson Fury Explains Why Francis Ngannou Needs To 'Kiss His Feet', Comments  On Ex-UFC Champ's Boxing Match With Anthony Joshua | MiddleEasy

The event will start at 4pm, Friday March 8 on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491) and Sky Sports Box Office HD (Sky channel 492). The event is priced at £19.95 for Sky customers in the UK, €24.95 for Sky customers in the Republic of Ireland up until midnight on Thursday March 7.

Thereafter £19.95/€24.95 across all “self-service” bookings (remote control/online) or £24.95 / €29.95 if booked via the phone (either IVR or agent) but note an additional £2 booking fee if via an agent will apply.

The event price will revert back to £19.95 / €24.95 (ROI) from midnight Friday March 8. Two repeat showings (full duration) will be shown at 6am and 4pm on Saturday March 9.

Anthony Joshua takes on Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on Friday as he looks to avoid a major slip-up in his bid to become world champion for a third time

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou clash on Friday – and we will have all the latest news ahead of the heavyweight showdown.

Joshua will be looking for his fourth win in succession after recording three wins in 2023; against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin. The Brit should be preparing to take on Deontay Wilder this week but the American wrecked those plans when he lost to Joseph Parker two nights before Christmas.

Ngannou almost stunned the boxing world into silence last October when he dropped Tyson Fury in the third round of his boxing debut only to lose a controversial split decision after 10 intriguing rounds. Here, we will bring you the latest news from fight week in Riyadh ahead of the latest test in Joshua’s career…

Ngannou: Joshua is more serious than ‘playboy’ Fury

Francis Ngannou fight an option for Anthony Joshua, says Eddie Hearn - BBC  Sport

”Anthony Joshua never trash talks, his personality is more serious unlike Tyson Fury who is more like a playboy. I think when it comes to fighting, they both know how to fight and that’s what I’m focused on,” Ngannou said in an exclusive interview with Mirror Fighting.

READ MORE ;Francis Ngannou told five things he must do against Anthony Joshua in mega-fight

“He might have been nervous but that doesn’t mean anything, in fact I think being nervous means he is taking things very serious. It’s very important because he’s going to do his best to show up on the day with everything.”

Full fight card and undercard

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou

Zhilei Zhang vs Joseph Parker

Rey Vargas vs Nick Ball

Israil Madrimov vs Magomed Kurbanov

Mark Chamberlain vs Gavin Gwynne

Andrii Novytskyi vs Juan Torres

Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena

Heavyweight Showdown: Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou | Evolve Daily

How to watch Joshua vs Ngannou

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou will be shown in the UK on both DAZN pay-per-view and on Sky Sports pay-per-view, costing just under £20. The fight will likely start at around 11pm in the UK and you can sign up for DAZN below…

Ngannou: I was born to fight

Francis Ngannou insists he is a born fighter who is capable of knocking out Anthony Joshua ahead of their bout on Friday.

Ngannou insists his lack of experience in the ring will not prevent him from springing a shock in Riyadh.

“I finished my training camp yesterday and I feel good,” the 37-year-old told Sky Sports News. “It has been a tough eight weeks to get here. I feel like I did everything that could be done.

“I believe if I land on anybody I knock them out. But the question is how to land, that is the hardest thing. How to carry that power and energy for 10 rounds and still be able to knock someone out after all the fatigue. I don’t have experience in boxing but, don’t make any mistake, I had a lot of experiencing in life, of fighting.

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury: How does the ex-UFC star  compare against the boxing heavyweights in height, weight, and reach

“I view my fighting spirit as high as anybody else’s. I don’t have any (boxing) experience but I know I can fight. You’re born as a fighter, you don’t become a fighter, I do believe that.”

Joshua the favourite

Anthony Joshua will start as the odds-on favourite on Friday – but so did Tyson Fury last October. On that occasion, Fury was dropped in the third round by the former UFC champion, only to recover and outpoint Ngannou after 10 rounds. This fight week feels different however, with no-one writing off the Cameroonian in quite the same way they did last year.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to our boxing blog! We’ll be bringing you the latest news from Saudi Arabia ahead of Anthony Joshua’s clash with Francis Ngannou on Friday night, an intriguing fight which will determine whether Ngannou can really challenge the best in the boxing business.

We’ll bring you the latest from the fight week events as well as all the news from a stacked undercard which features several other heavyweight stars and some homegrown talent.

Anthony Joshua, the former world heavyweight champion who lost his belts to Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021, will face Francis Ngannou in a 10-round heavyweight clash called ‘Knockout Chaos’.

Joshua, a former unified WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight champion, has won his last three fights against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin. He aims to extend it to four straight wins when he faces Ngannou in his second boxing game.

Ngannou held the title of UFC heavyweight champion before he exited the promotion to pursue his boxing career, amassing a record of 17 wins and three losses in MMA.

Here’s what to know ahead of the fight

Date

The fight is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 2024, and the show starts at 4 p.m. GMT.

Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua set for March 8th - The Who Dat Daily

Venue

The clash will take place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight is scheduled for a Friday, instead of the usual Saturday night to avoid conflicting with the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on March 9.

Where to watch

The bout will be live on different pay-per-view channels.

Boxing records

Joshua: Total fights: 3; Record: 27-3 (24 KOs)

Ngannou: Total fights: 1; Record: 0-1

Is there a title on the line?

There is no title on the line when Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou face off. Joshua lost multiple belts to Usyk and was unable to regain them in their rematch. Similarly, Ngannou was unsuccessful in his attempt to claim Fury’s WBC crown, suffering a defeat against the Briton.

How to Watch Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Date and Time in the US,  UK, Cameroon, Ukraine and 13 Other Countries, Check out the Broadcasting  Details for AJ vs Ngannou

What they are saying

Joshua: “This Friday it’s going to go down, so I can’t wait for the opportunity to show my skills and combat this person who thinks he can knock me out. I believe I can knock him out. Definitely. I would love to knock him out and make a statement.

“I’m just ready for a good fight – someone who’s got two arms and I know where the jabs come from, the hooks, the body shots, the right hand, the right hook – so I can be ready for the shots coming my way.

READ MORE ;Anthony Joshua ranks the greatest heavyweights ever and does NOT put Tyson Fury in the top tier but where does he place Francis Ngannou ahead of their Saudi showdown?

“He has to be ready for the shots which are coming his way because I’m a man who will be standing in front of him, bringing him a lot of hell and problems as well.”

Ngannou: “I believe if I land on anyone, I will knock them out. The question is how to land? That’s the hardest thing.

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou simulation ends in huge knockout

“Almost everyone in this division can knock anyone out, but how do you land or carry that power and energy to 10 rounds and still hit someone hard or knock somebody out after all the fatigue? It’s a chess game.

“I didn’t have any experience in boxing but don’t make any mistake. I’ve had a lot of experience in life and a lot of experience fighting. I’ve built my fighting spirit as high as anyone else. I know I can fight.”

Terence Crawford’s next move is still unknown.

Terence Crawford has been linked to multiple fights since defeating Errol Spence last year, with the most intriguing one being a bout with Canelo Alvarez.

Crawford became the undisputed world champion at welterweight by beating Spence, but the majority of fights he’s been mentioned in occur in bigger weight classes.

With Crawford atop of most pound-for-pound lists, a fight with Canelo would see two of the sport’s best fighters go at it.

The Nebraska man would have to jump up three weight classes to secure the bout, but he’s got no issue doing that after admitting he’d be open to testing himself against the Mexican icon.

Canelo Alvarez branded as 'delusional' as Terence Crawford snaps back over  comments about his record | talkSPORT

“Me and Canelo have never talked about fighting,” said Crawford when speaking to FightHype regarding the contest.

READ MORE ;TERENCE CRAWFORD GIFTS LOGO PENDANTS TO TEAM  As Thank You For Hard Work

“Yeah, that’s a fight that I would take in a heartbeat, and I would look forward to taking it. It’s always possible.”

Junto Nakatani hits the pound-for-pound list after another world title win, and it’s Gervonta “Tank” Davis falling off to make room.

Scott Christ

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Dmitry Bivol, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Devin Haney, (7) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (8) Junto Nakatani, (9) Kenshiro Teraji, (10) Canelo Alvarez

I’ve had some changes in heart the last couple months. Last month, I dropped Tank Davis a few spots. This month, Tank Davis is out. My issue is split. One thing is Tank just isn’t doing anything, and frankly shows no ambition to go after the best fights he can. Hey, that’s his prerogative, and if this were the dollar-for-dollar list, he’s top tier. But it isn’t. Enough coverage of boxing is forced to be about the short-sighted carny business aspect.

For once, I just want to talk about what’s happening in the ring.

And that’s where you get to the other stuff: Guys like Bam Rodriguez, Junto Nakatani, and Kenshiro Teraji are just going out there and doing it. You could argue Canelo Alvarez is slipping into the current Tank territory, but Canelo has far greater history and accomplishments, too, and that’s what keeps him hanging on at No. 10 for me, for now.

Gervonta Davis Tweets Hearn $10 Million Offer For Garcia Fight - Big Fight  Weekend

But Canelo’s on relatively thin ice, too. I think Tank is a tremendous talent, I think Canelo is still an outstanding fighter, but there are other people out there who are raising their stock while these guys sit stagnant.

This is also why Terence Crawford has slipped to No. 2 for me. I kind of had (and have) Inoue and Crawford as 1A and 1B in my mind, because I think Crawford is genuinely great. But so is Inoue, and Inoue is the guy out there fighting. Inoue will fight again on May 6, making it three fights since last July, the last time Crawford fought, and the only time he fought in 2023. So if one or the other deserves a tiebreaker, I’m going with Inoue at this point.

READ MORE ;Gervonta Davis Reacts as Errol Spence Jr. Sides With Frank Martin Amid Potential Fight Rumors

Nakatani comes in for me, winning world titles in three divisions the way he has is genuinely impressive and he’s a terrific fighter.

Wil Esco

(1) Terence Crawford, (2) Naoya Inoue, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Dmitry Bivol, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Jaron “Boots” Ennis, (7) Canelo Alvarez, (8) Devin Haney, (9) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (10) Kenshiro Teraji

Junto Nakatani Contemplating Moving Up To Bantamweight

Been giving this some thought and while I do think Gervonta Davis is an extremely talented fighter, I just can’t continually give him a pass considering his general level of opposition, with no real desire to even contend for the major world titles which would entail the biggest threats to him. He drops off and Kenshiro Teraji is in.

John Hansen

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Dmitry Bivol, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (7) Devin Haney, (8) Kenshiro Teraji, (9) David Benavidez, (10) Junto Nakatani

Real bummer losing Usyk vs Fury from the February calendar. Not a lot else to shake up the standings this month. Nakatani looked good, but I moved him in last month to look clever before the other guys did, but still hopefully early enough that people won’t remember Stumberg did it first out of us all.

So, no changes for me, but I’m curious to see how many colleagues keep Canelo in their top 10 this month. Justice for David Benavidez!

Patrick Stumberg

Report: Davis vs. Garcia provides big PPV number

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Canelo Alvarez, (5) Dmitry Bivol, (6) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (7) Artur Beterbiev, (8) Junto Nakatani, (9) Devin Haney, (10) Kenshiro Teraji

What did I say? What did I say about Junto Nakatani?

In all seriousness, torching Santiago like that went above even my expectations. There’s no doubt in my mind that, given the opportunity, Nakatani will run roughshod over all his fellow bantamweight champs.

RELATED ;Gervonta Davis fires back at Shakur Stevenson’s reaction to Devin Haney sparring footage in deleted tweet

As for the rest, we’re probably not going to see much movement for the next couple of months unless Ryan Garcia somehow flips the script on Devin Haney in April. Kosei Tanaka’s getting close to the fringe, but he’ll need a few more good wins before I’m ready to rank him with his countrymen.

Lewis Watson

Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia Technical Breakdown: Winning in the Gym

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Devin Haney, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Dmitry Bivol, (7) Canelo Alvarez, (8) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (9) Kenshiro Teraji, (10) Gervonta Davis

No movement in February in the month that we should have seen Fury vs Usyk. Nakatani was the star of the month and is the closest to breaking into the top 10. Junto looks a special fighter, underlining that in his pummeling of Santiago last week and at 26 has the world at his feet.

50 Cent cleverly revives his long-standing feud with Mayweather, using his novel’s promotion to comment on literacy, against the backdrop of Diddy’s legal troubles.

Once again, 50 Cent has taken to social media to reignite an old feud with Floyd Mayweather, coupling the promotion of his new fiction novel with a fresh jab at the boxing champion’s literacy. This development comes amid swirling discussions surrounding Diddy’s sexual assault allegations, adding another layer to the ongoing drama in the music and sports entertainment spheres.

In a clever marketing move, 50 Cent, also known as Curtis Jackson, used the announcement of his debut novel, The Accomplice, to take a swipe at Mayweather. Via an Instagram post, he made a tongue-in-cheek remark about ensuring the simultaneous release of the audiobook, hinting at Mayweather’s alleged illiteracy. This dig is part of a long-standing feud between the two, with 50 Cent periodically mocking Mayweather’s reading ability. The post not only highlighted Jackson’s upcoming literary venture but also teased a related movie project, all the while subtly reigniting his rivalry with Mayweather.

50 Cent says Floyd Mayweather is broke: Feud escalates, boxing, UFC

 

Mayweather’s Controversial Podcast Appearance

The timing of 50 Cent’s jab coincides with Mayweather’s recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, where he refrained from criticizing Diddy over recent sexual assault allegations. Mayweather’s comments, suggesting a reluctance to ‘stomp’ on Diddy due to the latter being a ‘Black man’ and emphasizing the importance of minding one’s own business, have sparked controversy. This stance, especially coming from a figure like Mayweather, has added fuel to the ongoing discussions surrounding accountability and celebrity culture.

Diddy’s Legal Troubles and Industry Impact

Diddy, facing several sexual assault allegations, has become a topic of intense debate and scrutiny. Despite settling a lawsuit with Cassie, he continues to battle legal challenges in New York. These allegations have not only affected Diddy’s personal and professional life but have also prompted broader conversations about the music industry’s handling of such serious accusations. The situation is further complicated by the varied reactions from other celebrities, including 50 Cent’s provocative commentary.

TIL 50 Cent once challenged Floyd Mayweather to read one page of a Harry  Potter book : r/todayilearned

The feud between 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather, though personal and at times petty, sheds light on larger issues within celebrity culture, including how allegations of misconduct are navigated and discussed publicly. As both men continue to wield significant influence, their actions and words ripple through their respective industries, prompting us to reflect on the nature of celebrity feuds and the real-world issues they often intersect with. With no resolution in sight, the saga between Jackson and Mayweather continues to captivate and provoke, underscoring the complex interplay between personal vendettas and public discourse.

50 Cent has once again stirred controversy by revisiting his past criticism of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, this time doubling down on allegations of illiteracy.

Shortly after announcing his upcoming debut fiction novel on Friday (March 1), Fif turned to Instagram to promote the book, The Accomplice, and in the same breath slyly threw shade at his longtime rival.

“I have no beef with anyone, I even made sure the audiobook comes out at the same time so champ won’t feel left out. [shrug emoji] GLG [traffc light emoji],” he wrote alongside a snap featuring the book’s cover.

“GreenLightGang [film emoji] The accomplice Movie coming soon,” he added also revealing there’s a film in the pipeline, all the wile tagging his spirit brands Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi.

The feud, spanning back as far as 2019, saw 50 Cent poking fun at Mayweather’s alleged illiteracy issues with a written letter he shared on Instagram.

50 Cent Wants to Fight Floyd Mayweather - XXL

It seemingly reignited this week after Mayweather’s comments on Diddy’s sexual assault allegations.

The retired boxer appeared on The Pivot Podcast in late February where he refused to condemn the Bad Boy boss over accusations he raped four woman, including his ex-girlfriend Cassie.

“I’m not gonna speak bad about P. Diddy,” Mayweather said. “‘Cause he still a Black man. Mistakes happen. And I can’t say if it is or not a mistake, but things happen in life. And P. Diddy’s business is P. Diddy’s business. It’s not my job or anybody else’s job to go on the internet and stomp him and kick a man while he’s down.

READ MORE ;Floyd Mayweather Reveals Only Way Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez Is Possible

“My take on it is: it’s not my business. I don’t think it’s right at all and I don’t condone it. Even if that happened to my daughter, I would be hurt but that’s a choice that my daughter made.”

In an Instagram post shared shortly after the appearance, Curtis re-posted a video of Mayweather’s comments and took aim at his long-running rival.

He wrote: “[palm on face emoji] they didn’t even ask him about this, Champ is you stupid or is you dumb? Get me the fuck out ya head, you sound like a hater. DIDDY DO IT ? COMING soon.”

50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Appear to End Their Decade-Long Feud

Diddy has been accused of several instances of sexual assault since November of last year, all of which he has vehemently denied.

JUST IN ;Devin Haney takes break from attacking Ryan Garcia to call out hater Floyd Mayweather

He quickly settled the lawsuit filed against him by Cassie but is still facing three suits in the state of New York.

Anthony Joshua has bumped into John Fury ahead of his upcoming fight.

AJ will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the main event of ‘Knockout Chaos’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday night.

Tyson Fury’s opinionated father is in the Middle East to support his son Roman, who will look to stretch his perfect professional boxing record to 4-0 in an undercard fight against Martin Svarc.

‘Big John’ has never shied away from backing his WBC heavyweight champion son to beat Joshua and every other big man in boxing.

However, Fury Sr has always enjoyed a friendly relationship with AJ, so much so that ‘The Gypsy King’ jokingly told Joshua to sever ties with his old man in December 2022.

Of course, their inevitable meeting in Saudi Arabia was a friendly one.

John Fury explains why Francis Ngannou is a 'tall order' for Anthony Joshua  | DAZN News US

 

The two men embraced after bumping into each other before Joshua kicked off their conversation by making the 59-year-old worry about what he’d said in recent interviews.

“How are you? I have watched everything you have said,” Joshua told Fury, who responded with an awkward laugh before pointing out the size of the 6ft 6in KO artist.

He joked: “He is a f****** big fella, isn’t he?”

READ MORE ;Anthony Joshua ranks the greatest heavyweights ever and does NOT put Tyson Fury in the top tier but where does he place Francis Ngannou ahead of their Saudi showdown?

Joshua added: “It is land of the giants, isn’t it? The heavyweight division is changing up.”

Fury then said it was ‘great’ to meet Joshua as the conversation turned towards Roman, and the pair wished each other luck before going their separate ways.

It may be friendly between the two men right now, but it won’t be for long.

John Fury's brilliant reaction after meeting Anthony Joshua ahead of Francis  Ngannou fight - Dexerto

Joshua is hoping to secure a fight with Tyson or Oleksandr Usyk after they clash in a historic four-belt undisputed bout on May 18.

The 34-year-old could be trying to knock lumps out on John’s son by the end of 2024, but for now, it appears they are focused on different things.

RELATED ;Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou took on punch machine challenge to test elite heavyweight power

Joshua has an MMA KO merchant to take care of, while Fury is trying to make another boxing superstar out of one of his children.

Anthony Joshua ranked heavyweight boxing stars from past and present, but there was no space for Tyson Fury amongst the top tier of previous champions.

The 34-year-old is attempting to put himself in the frame for another world title shot when he fights Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on Friday, March 8 and has been nominating his pick of the best boxers in the history of the division.

Joshua is a former two-time world champion himself and wants to become a three-time record belt holder by facing the eventual winner of Tyson Fury’s clash against Oleksandr Usyk.

Ahead of his showdown with former UFC star Ngannou, Joshua was presented with a list of heavyweights and asked to place them into five separate groups ranging from GOAT [greatest of all time] to sparring partner.

UFC icon Francis Ngannou wants Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua for first  boxing match - Daily Star

The Englishman placed a total of seven fighters in the GOAT category while others mixed in the champion, world level and mid level rankings.

An honest and modest Joshua started by immediately thrusting former heavyweight superstar Muhammad Ali into the top tier who was later joined by Derek Chisora, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko, Joe Lewis, Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano.

READ MORE ;Francis Ngannou told five things he must do against Anthony Joshua in mega-fight

Joshua previously beat former Ukrainian champion Klitschko to claim his first WBA title at the age of 27 in front of 90,000 spectators at Wembley in 2017.

A matchup against Fury has been touted ever since and looked to be close to coming to fruition before he was surprisingly beaten in two separate bouts by Usyk.

Joshua and Fury would be one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing, but there was only space for the Gypsy King and Usyk amongst the champion rankings.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua called out by Francis Ngannou after UFC exit  as heavyweight star eyes boxing switch | The Sun

Deontay Wilder, Frank Bruno and Joseph Parker also made it into the grouping with Joshua placing himself in the group of superstar boxers as well.

Meanwhile, upcoming opponent Ngannou who floored Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout last year was added into the third ‘world level’ tier by Joshua.

The Cameroonian has displayed his outrageous power in the build-up to Friday’s fight, but remains the underdog for the big-money clash in Riyad.

UPDATE NEWS ;Anthony Joshua famous TV show punch power record smashed by Francis Ngannou

David Haye, Dillian Whyte and Daniel Dubois were also place in the same group.

A host of other heavyweight contenders including one of Joshua’s most recent opponent Robert Helenius and fellow Brit Joe Joyce were put into the mid level tier.

What else can David Benavidez do? Can he ever challenge Canelo Alvarez, despite being the interim champion for almost two years? Floyd Mayweather believes the Mexican fighter needs to do what he did to bag his dream fight.

‘The Mexican Monster’ has decided to quit the waiting game and move up to 175 and challenge for the belt. He will exchange punches with Oleksandr Gvozdyk, with the winner expected to challenge the victor of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol for all the marbles. While Alvarez plans his Cinco de Mayo fight, Benavidez prepares for the fresh challenge ahead. But will their paths cross? Will Benavidez, at 28-0, be “the man”?

Floyd Mayweather explains what David Benavidez needs to do

Speaking with Fight Hype, Mayweather touched upon the way the 27-year-old fighter needs to keep on putting opponent after opponent on the canvas to have his way. Waiting for his turn is the mantra that the former world champion has given Benavidez. Floyd said, “If David Benavidez keeps beating fighter after fighter, and champion after champion, eventually he’ll be the man.”

Boxing: Mayweather believes Canelo is ducking David Benavidez fight | Marca

“And then everybody will want to fight him. Just like me, you have to wait your turn. David Benavidez is a helluva fighter. All David has to do is keep going out there and beating guys, staying focused, and then he’ll be the guy,” Mayweather added.

READ MORE ;Floyd Mayweather dragged into growing Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia rivalry

Mayweather, a technical fighter with a not-so-fan-friendly style, initially found it hard to get big names. But he persisted, and after stacking his resume and beating rivals in the squared circle, big fights soon followed.

A similar case is with Benavidez, who has to keep running down on every opponent, and soon he will force his way in. However, if Benavidez’s father is to be believed, the super middleweight is avoiding a fight with his son to save his face and possibly a defeat.

Canelo Alvarez seems headed toward Edgar Berlanga or Jaime Munguia, which  defies belief with David Benavidez or Terence Crawford available

According to David Benavidez Sr., Alvarez is at the end of his career. He told Fight Hype, “He is not the same Canelo that used to break arms and knock people out. He knows that David can beat him, and he doesn’t want to lose to David.”

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Currently, Alvarez is busy planning his Cinco de Mayo fight as he screens through names to defend his undisputed crown. But there appear to be no concrete reports as of now about whom he will be fighting. Meanwhile, Benavidez is breaking a sweat in training to prepare for his light heavyweight debut.