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Ngannou takes on Joshua next week as he looks to record his first professional boxing victory, five months after almost beating Tyson Fury

Francis Ngannou has been given a long list of instructions as he prepares to take on Anthony Joshua next week.

Ngannou, who dropped Tyson Fury on his professional boxing debut last October before falling to a narrow split-decision after 10 rounds, goes into Friday’s clash as a significant underdog. Joshua has won his last three fights and knows victory could propel him into another world title fight.

One of those victories last year came against Jermain Franklin and the heavyweight has offered Ngannou some advice ahead of his second boxing bout. “Francis needs to do these five things,” he told Action Network. “1. He needs to come out fast and bully AJ, Joshua does not like to be bullied. 2. He must use his jab to set up his power, he cannot look for one shot to take him out. 3. Francis needs to stay patient and wait for the opening like he did with Fury. 4. He will need to take AJ’s power, and if he can do that, he has a major chance to win. 5. He must focus on working the body and using angles to counter AJ’s power.”

Anthony Joshua To Fight Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia

 

Joshua, meanwhile, will not simply bulldoze his way through Ngannou and must seek to wear out the mixed martial artist-turned-boxer before landing any knockout blow, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

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

Ngannou may have lost the element of surprise after a staggering professional boxing debut last October when the former UFC heavyweight champion knocked down Tyson Fury before losing a debatable decision.

He will look to prove his performance was no fluke on March 8 against Joshua , who hopes to put himself in the shop window for a crack at British compatriot Fury or a trilogy meeting against Oleksandr Usyk.

“This isn’t going to be one hit on the chin, clearly he’s an immovable object with a fantastic chin and big, big, big power. You’ve got to be really smart in this fight – don’t get hit, break him down and hopefully he’ll go over like a big tower and we can just move on.”

In fact, he took it one step further … by turning the outline of Crawford’s body (the T in the TBC logo) into an actual figure of the undefeated pugilist.

Cris Cyborg isn’t too happy with the PFL and recently clapped back as she believes the promotion used her name to build up Claressa Shields.

The ongoing beef between Cyborg and Shields stems from their interaction at the Super Bowl radio row, where they spoke about a potential boxing match. Since then, the reigning women’s boxing champion-turned-PFL star and reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion have had a number of heated exchanges on social media.

Most recently, Shields recounted a sparring session with Cyborg during her appearance on The MMA Hour this past week. She mentioned that the Brazilian is no match for her in boxing and discredited her boxing skills by noting that it would be an easy fight.

READ MORE ;Claressa Shields “Can’t Breath” as Ryan Garcia Makes Unexpected Admission During Devin Haney Press Conference

The PFL then posted a clip along with the boxer’s comments to their Instagram account, which caught Cyborg’s attention. The Bellator women’s featherweight champion was clearly upset with the post and clapped back at the promotion:

Claressa Shields versus Cris Cyborg Full Fight Video Breakdown by Paulie G  - YouTube

It’s weird this is how @pflmma chooses to promote me with their PR team. Same thing Super Bowl weekend in Vegas. Nobody from PFL even booked me an interview that weekend after that publicity stunt. It’s just weird after watching them use my name to build Kayla to see them using the same strategy to build Claressa.”

It will be interesting to see whether Shields will respond to Cyborg regarding the PFL using her to build her up or if it actually leads to a bout between the two as they are both signed to the promotion.

What did Claressa Shields say about Cris Cyborg?

Claressa Shields didn’t hold back when she shared her thoughts on Cyborg’s boxing skills. She noted that Cyborg would be no match for her in the ring.

During her appearance on The MMA Hour, the women’s boxing champion recounted their 2018 sparring session and mentioned that based on her observation, the reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion would have no chance against her. She said:

You So Goofy...' - Cris Cyborg, Claressa Shields Go At It Over Career  Accolades & Potential Boxing Fight - MMA News | UFC News, Results &  Interviews

Cris Cyborg got power in MMA because you have all those different arts that you can use. In boxing, Cris Cyborg, she can’t mess with me on the day that I’m sick with the flu.”

Is Gervonta Davis, now Abdul Wahid after converting to Islam, underestimating Frank Martin whom ‘Tank’ is rumored to face in June this year? Well, given Davis’ resume in the sport, the popular opinion is that Gervonta will easily bear down Martin. However, Errol Spence Jr., who signed ‘The Ghost’ in 2020, has his faith in Frank. But, in this regard, when Spence Jr. publicly announced his support for Martin, Davis ridiculed it.

While it’s debatable whether or not Davis is underestimating Martin, ‘Tank’ is certainly confident about his success against ‘The Ghost’. Therefore, Davis indirectly questioned Martin’s skills. But, on the other hand, Derrick James revealed Martin was working hard for the fight.

READ MORE ;Ryan Garcia Risks Floyd Mayweather’s Wrath by Sharing Clip of Devin Haney Getting Stunned by Gervonta Davis

Ahead of the fight against Hector Luis Garcia in January last year, Gervonta Davis’ name was linked with Frank Martin’s. On that note, being Martin’s promoter since 2020, Errol Spence Jr. sided with Martin’s abilities. However, Davis, who earlier sparred with Martin, cautioned Spence Jr. by saying, “Errol better watch out. He’ll get his fighter [Frank Martin] hurt bad like I did before.” But, now that Davis and Martin are being placed on the same page again, Spence Jr. upheld ‘The Ghost’ one more time.

Frank Martin beats Michel Rivera in becoming new player at lightweight -  The Ring

Taking to X, ‘The Truth’ declared, “I’m team me & whoever signed with me which is team Frank Martin…” However, ‘Tank’ Davis was not pleased with Spence’s tweet. Therefore, he replied with a photo that looked like Spence Jr. made ‘Tank’ cringe. And although Davis soon deleted his response, Michael Benson managed to get a screenshot of the same in time.

While Gervonta Davis and Spence Jr. had their moments on X, Derrick James told the media that Frank Martin was training with his heart out for the Davis fight.

For Team Martin, the fight against Davis is a “big deal”

Since Frank Martin has sparred with Gervonta Davis in the past, ‘The Ghost’ is aware of Davis’ abilities. For example, ahead of Davis vs. Leo Santa Cruz, when FightHype interviewed Martin, ‘The Ghost’ meditated on “good experience” with Davis. According to Frank, Davis is sharp, holds his own, and fights like a “beast“. However, Martin also claimed that Davis was not the most powerful boxer he came across in his life. Anyway, should the fight happen in June this year, it would be one of the biggest events in Martin’s pro career.

Gervonta Davis scheduled to defend his lightweight belt against Frank Martin  - The Ring

On that note, Martin’s trainer Derrick James said, “We have Frank Martin working out. Things have been said about that [the potential fight against Davis in June]. It’s a big deal, yeah.” With that said, what do you now make of Gervonta Davis’ reaction to Errol Spence Jr.’s tweet?

Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin is reportedly planned for June 15.

‘Tank’ hasn’t appeared in the ring since a knockout win over Ryan Garcia last April. Following the win, Davis found himself in a bit of legal trouble, but he’s now eyeing a return to the ring. Over the last few weeks, the WBA lightweight champion has been in discussion to face a variety of opponents.

Despite heated talks with Eddie Hearn and Conor Benn, Davis will seemingly face Frank Martin next. According to multiple reports, the champion was looking to finalize a bout with ‘The Ghost’ in the coming days. Davis himself posted a fan-made poster to social media, seemingly confirming a fight with Martin.

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

Now, fans know the planned fight date. As first reported by Boxing Scene, Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin is planned for June 15. The two will headline an Amazon Prime pay-per-view, the second of the PBC’s new deal with the streaming service.

Gervonta Davis Set To Fight Frank Martin In Next Fight

As of now, the fight location for the championship bout isn’t known. However, in late January, reports emerged about Davis’ next bout taking place in the UK. While that’s not confirmed, it would be his first fight in England since a knockout win over Liam Walsh in 2017.

Derrick James confirms Frank Martin is training ahead of Gervonta Davis bout

Derrick James has offered a brief update on Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin.

Speaking in a recent interview, the famed coach was asked about the rumors about ‘The Ghost’. There, James confirmed that the young boxer was in discussions to face ‘Tank’ later this summer.

If the bout comes to fruition, it would easily be the biggest bout of Martin’s career. It also comes at a really busy time for head coach Derrick James. Over the next few months, his fighters, Anthony Joshua, Ryan Garcia, and Martin, will be competing.

BOX: ¡ÚLTIMA HORA! GERVONTA DAVIS VS FRANK MARTIN; LE PELEA HA SIDO  ACORDADA PARA ESTE 2024 | SportsMedia

Still, the trainer is confident in all of his boxers competing over the next few months. In the interview with Boxing Scene, James was asked about Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin, as well as other upcoming fights. The trainer stated:

UPDATE ;Boxing fans discover target date for Gervonta Davis’ next fight later this year

We have Frank Martin working out [lately]. Things have been said about that [fight potentially happening]. It’s a big deal, yeah… I believe in myself. And I believe in his abilities. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about being diligent about who you are and focusing on what your abilities are, and that’s what gets you what you want.”

The super lightweights fight live on DAZN PPV on April 20.

Devin Haney has blasted Floyd Mayweather Jr. for supposedly leaking footage of his sparring with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.

Mayweather and Haney have trained together in the past but the former has grown closer to Davis and Ryan Garcia, both antagonists of Haney. Garcia fights Haney on DAZN PPV live on April 20.

READ MORE ;Ryan Garcia Risks Floyd Mayweather’s Wrath by Sharing Clip of Devin Haney Getting Stunned by Gervonta Davis

Garcia recently released footage from almost a decade ago that saw Haney, then 16, sparring with Davis – four years his senior. In the video, Davis comes off better in a scrap with Mayweather as an unofficial referee.

Haney regarded that as the last straw in their growing antagonism, and fired back on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Floyd has been hating a long time,” he wrote. “This ain’t just starting. I held my tongue for years because I respect the greats of the sport. But dude is a bonafide hater that doesn’t wanna see nobody win if he’s not a part of it!

Ryan Garcia: Is Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia this generation's Floyd  Mayweather Jr. vs. Oscar De La Hoya? Exploring the comparisons between the  two matchups

“I know he sent Ryan the sparring … I know he gave Ryan those ‘pimp’ comments to say. Miserable old man tried to stop the fight. Alhamdulillah I’m happy he revealed himself to the world.”

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou have both shown off their incredible punching power on the famous ‘punch machine challenge’ in recent years – but who came out on top?

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou have both shown how strong they are by taking part in a fun punch machine challenge.

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

When boxers go on TV, they often have to try the ‘punch machine challenge’, especially if they are a big champion. ‘AJ’ was on the Graham Norton show in 2017 and took his suit jacket off before testing his strength.

Before him, actors Rachel Weisz, Martin Freeman and Greg Davies had a go and got scores of 182, 594 and 632 respectively. Then it was the turn of Joshua and with his right hand, he got a score of 848, which broke the old record of 787.

Anthony Joshua sent chilling warning by Francis Ngannou after fight  confirmed | Boxing | Sport | Express.co.uk

READ MORE: Anthony Joshua’s nerves are ‘very important’ to Francis Ngannou ahead of fight

 Anthony Joshua’s nerves are ‘very important’ to Francis Ngannou ahead of fight

More recently, Ngannou also tried a punch machine when he was in London, talking about his fight with Joshua. He didn’t use the same machine as Joshua, so we can’t say who is stronger from this. But when Ngannou hit the machine without even trying hard, he got the top score of 999. He put up a video of his amazing punch and asked: “Who can beat my score?”

In 2018, Ngannou set a world record for the strongest punch ever. He got a score of 129,161 units on a PowerKube, which checks how powerful a punch is by looking at how hard, accurate and fast it is.

Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou: Heavyweight fight set for 8 March in  Saudi Arabia - BBC Sport

“Francis Ngannou has the world record for the most powerful punch, his punch is the equivalent to 96 horsepower which is equal to getting hit by a Ford Escort going as fast as it can,” said UFC president Dana White. “And it’s more powerful than a 12-pound sledgehammer swung full force from overhead. Holy sh**!”

RELATED NEWS ;I agree with Anthony Joshua Tyson Fury claims and Francis Ngannou could prove it

But now, UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer has beaten that record with a huge punch that scored 170,218 units – that’s 31.7 per cent stronger than Ngannou’s punch. Boxing fans will see how Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou really compare on March 8, when they face off in the boxing ring.

Claressa Shields recently weighed in on a possible boxing bout against Cris Cyborg and doubled down on the women’s MMA legend’s chances should they compete in the ring.

Shields is coming off her hard-fought split decision win over Kelsey DeSantis this past weekend at the historic PFL vs. Bellator event in Saudi Arabia. The women’s boxing champion received some criticism online, especially from Cyborg, who has been open about wanting to fight her in a 147-pound bout.

READ MORE ;Claressa Shields “Can’t Breath” as Ryan Garcia Makes Unexpected Admission During Devin Haney Press Conference

During her appearance on The MMA Hour, Shields shared her thoughts on Cyborg’s abilities as a boxer and didn’t hold back as she noted that it would be an easy fight for her. She mentioned that she got the better of the reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion when they sparred in the past, which resulted in them never sparring since.

You So Goofy...' - Cris Cyborg, Claressa Shields Go At It Over Career  Accolades & Potential Boxing Fight - MMA News | UFC News, Results &  Interviews

MMA Fighting posted the 28-year-old’s comments about the Brazilian to their Instagram account, which caught the attention of the MMA and boxing community. Shields then doubled down on the comments she made while speaking to Ariel Helwani as she commented that she was speaking the truth about Cyborg:

It will be interesting to see whether Shields’ comments will result in the PFL strongly considering a bout between her and Cyborg in either MMA, boxing, or mixed rules in the future.

What did Claressa Shields say about Cris Cyborg?

Claressa Shields recently blasted Cris Cyborg and claimed that the reigning Bellator featherweight champion didn’t want to fight her in a boxing match after she found somebody willing to offer a lucrative payday to make it happen.

Claressa Shields versus Cris Cyborg Full Fight Video Breakdown by Paulie G  - YouTube

During the aforementioned appearance, Shields recounted a sparring session with Cyborg and mentioned that she purposely held back and was still able to have her way with the women’s MMA legend:

UPDATE ;Not My Meek Mill Claressa Shields Reacts To Rumors Of Her ‘Favorite’ Rapper’s Sexual Relationship With Diddy

When I sparred against Cris Cyborg in 2018, I took it easy on her…The first and second round, I beat the sh*t outta Cris Cyborg. She cannot box, okay…Cris Cyborg got power in MMA cause you got all different arts you could use. In boxing, Cris Cyborg, she can’t mess with me on the that I’m sick with the flu.”

Boxing fans aren’t going to have long to wait to see Gervonta Davis in action, with a target date set for his return.

It has been nearly a year since ‘Tank’ knocked Ryan Garcia out to maintain his unbeaten record, and next up is Frank Martin.

A provisional date of June 15 has been set for Davis’ clash against Martin, according to Boxing Scene.

READ MORE ;Ryan Garcia Risks Floyd Mayweather’s Wrath by Sharing Clip of Devin Haney Getting Stunned by Gervonta Davis

Tank is a huge hit with fans all over the world for his explosive style and unique character, so his return to the ring will no doubt prove popular.

His opponent, though, won’t be a pushover.

Martin boasts an 18-0-0 record and has 12 KOs to his name, and he will be desperate to halt Davis’ run and climb the rankings.

Gervonta Davis defeats Ryan Garcia by knockout to remain unbeaten - Los  Angeles Times

There were strong suggestions that Davis would actually fight Englishman Conor Benn next, with Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, sending an official contract offer to the American.

Hearn spoke at length about offering the deal to Davis to face Benn, who was cleared of doping last year.

He said: “He’ll be receiving an offer from us today for that fight. I think it’s a huge fight.

“Could happen in the UK, but we’re looking in America for that.

“You’ve got two fiery characters; Gervonta’s an outstanding fighter.

“He’s a super-featherweight really coming up to lightweight and boxing at super-lightweight, but he’s never boxed at welterweight.

“It’s a really tough fight for Conor Benn. Gervonta’s a pound-for-pound great, but I like the size advantage in that fight.

Gervonta Davis - Next Fight, Fighter Bio, Stats & News

“So it’s a big ask for Conor, but this is what he wants, he wants those kind of tests.

RELATED NEWS ;Gervonta Davis Eyes Victory Through Unconventional Preparation for Bout Against Frank Martin

“I think Gervonta Davis vs Conor Benn is a fight that can really light up America and the UK.

“So he will be getting our offer today. We wanna try and make the fight.”

But Davis decided to go a different path and it looks like a June date for his comeback.

The American is one of the boxing’s biggest names, so it’s great to have him back in the ring and competing again.

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou have both put their thunderous power to the test for fun in recent years.

When a boxer appears on mainstream TV to measure their strength, they are usually not allowed to leave until they have used the famous ‘punch machine challenge’, especially when they’re a heavyweight champion.

AJ did not disappoint during an appearance on the Graham Norton show in 2017.

As soon as he saw the machine, he took his suit jacket off and strolled over to have a turn.

He graciously let fellow guests – actors Rachel Weisz, Martin Freeman and Greg Davies – go first.

READ MORE ;Francis Ngannou drops Mike Tyson bombshell ahead of Anthony Joshua fight

They scored 182, 594 and 632 respectively before Joshua turned up and smashed it with his right hand.

He scored 848 – breaking the existing record of 787.

Ngannou took his turn on Gym Shark’s punch machine in London while carrying out his pre-fight media duties for the AJ clash.

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

 

This was on a separate machine and so their results are not directly comparable.

However, Ngannou barely threw his weight behind the shot and yet when he connected he effortlessly hit a maximum score of 999.

Ngannou uploaded a video to social media of his earth-shattering punch with the caption: “Who can beat my score?”

“Francis Ngannou has the world record for the most powerful punch, his punch is the equivalent to 96 horsepower which is equal to getting hit by a Ford Escort going as fast as it can,” UFC president Dana White said at the time.

“And it’s more powerful than a 12-pound sledgehammer swung full force from overhead. Holy sh*t!”

Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou: Heavyweight fight set for 8 March in  Saudi Arabia - BBC Sport

However, his record has since been broken by UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer, who landed a thudding shot that registered at 170,218 units – 31.7 per cent harder than Ngannou’s.

Meanwhile, the record on the punch machine at talkSPORT Towers was recently broken by an up-and-coming cruiserweight star.

UPDATE NEWS ;‘Most avoided heavyweight on the planet’ will be a nightmare for Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Aloys Junior, Britain’s answer to Mike Tyson, demonstrated his raw power on a visit to our studios.

Junior hit a stunning score of 982 on the hanging bag to jump to pole position on our leaderboard ahead of heavy-handed heavyweight Johnny Fisher.