Molly McCann believes Anthony Joshua can emerge victorious against Francis Ngannou in their showdown in Saudi Arabia on Friday night if the former UFC champion uses his power against the British fighter.
The pair will meet in a huge clash at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Cameroonian-French MMA fighter coming into the fight after surprising WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October.
Ngannou is widely regarded as one of the hardest hitters in the world, with UFC president Dana White previously describing one of his punches as “akin to being hit by a Ford Escort going full speed.”
And McCann, who recently claimed victory over Diana Belbita, warned Joshua ahead of the fight and praised Ngannou for his work to improve as a boxer.
“I think a punch always has a chance… I really didn’t think he would do as well as what he did against Tyson Fury,” McCann said. Sky Sports News.
Francis Ngannou takes on Anthony Joshua on Friday night in what is shaping up to be a huge showdown
Molly McCann believes Ngannou possesses Joshua’s ‘kryptonite’ and praises the Cameroonian after he ‘stunned the world against Tyson Fury’
‘I think he shocked the world with that. He won their respect. And I think the world fell a little bit in love with him.
“He put his down. He has continued to work on his craft,” she added.
In his first professional boxing fight, the 37-year-old smashed the ‘Gypsy King’ to the canvas in the third round, before Fury claimed a split decision victory – with some fans claiming Ngannou had been ‘robbed’.
Joshua, meanwhile, secured a comfortable victory against Otto Wallin in December at the ‘Day of Reckoning’, but will want to use his experience against Ngannou to secure victory tonight and then give himself a fighting chance against Fury.
The 34-year-old will earn around £39million before entering the ring against Ngannou but faces a tough opponent, with McCann revealing Ngannou could possess the British fighter’s kryptonite.
“AJ’s kryptonite could be the stuff Francis has a lot of in his locker.
“It would be good to see if AJ is good enough to beat him, be smart and not stand there waiting to get hit.
“Francis needs to sit down on his punches and let them go a little more than he did in his last fight – where he was a little bit careful because it was his first professional boxing fight.
‘While now he knows the score.’
McCann added that ‘it would be good to see if AJ is good enough to beat him, be smart and not stay there to get hit’
The pair faced off at the weigh-in ahead of their fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Thursday afternoon
Ngannou comes into this fight coming off a defeat to Fury (right), despite knocking the WBC heavyweight champion to the ground in the third round of that encounter
Joshua does not underestimate his opponent, despite his relative wealth of boxing experience.
The British fighter vowed ‘all-out war’ against the former UFC star, who was also involved in a war of words with his former opponent Fury in the build-up to this fight.
‘All will be revealed: outright war, ruthlessness and a good fight. That’s what everyone is here for: a good fight,” he said when asked about his preparation for the fight.
“We are not looking beyond this fight,” he said when asked about a possible plan to fight the Gypsy King if he were to claim victory over Ngannou.
“The incentives and everything, it’s just to win, to focus on my game plan and focus on what I have to do.
“It was always his (Franciscus) dream to become a boxer, he was part of the Cameroonian team and only started MMA at the age of 26.
‘He’s been doing it from a young age, I know what I’m up against.
Ngannou possesses one of the most powerful punches in the world, which has been compared to being punched by a Ford Escort
Joshua, meanwhile, could set up a fight against Fury if he beats Ngannou on Friday
‘I spar, I do my film studies and keep it professional. But on the night that textbook goes out the window, you have to be ruthless.
“This (entertainment) is what I have dedicated my life to, so take every challenge, every competition and I will be the best I can be. One day I’ll share the ring with Tyson – I’m serious about the game.
‘The best man will always win, it’s not rocket science. One of the main things I’m looking forward to is showing how good I am. People will find out when they get in the ring, but we’ll see. It’s Friday soon, I’m looking forward to it and the occasion.’