Editor’s be aware: This text was initially printed at MMAJunkie.com.
***
Dewey Cooper, Francis Ngannou b’soxing coach, sees similarities in Ngannou and Anthony Joshua’s approaches.
Ngannou (0-1) is scheduled to tackle Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) in a 10-round boxing match March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cooper thinks Joshua possesses the identical sort of one-punch knockout energy as Ngannou, which makes it an thrilling combat.
“I’m well-versed in relation to Anthony Joshua,” Cooper mentioned on Morning Kombat. “The one factor that we now have to look out for – there are a number of issues, but when there have been just one, it will be that highly effective proper hand, in fact.
“He throws it to the physique simply to arrange that head shot. He has a variety of energy. He can put a man’s lights out with one punch, so it’s going to be a hell of a combat.”
Ngannou impressed in his boxing debut when he pushed champion Tyson Fury to the brink in an in depth determination loss. Cooper defined how the matchup towards Fury differs from the one towards Joshua.
“He’s an excellent fighter, basically sound, robust, large, athletic, good footwork when he desires to,” Cooper mentioned of Joshua. “He’s going to be an actual problem as a result of the Tyson Fury combat was about talent.
“It was about being cerebral as a result of Tyson has so many alternative kinds. He fights in three, 4 completely different kinds. This combat is mano-a-mano, hearth vs. hearth. Tyson Fury combat was water vs. hearth.
“Tyson was water. He can drown you. He can splash on you. He can crash on you. He can simply put on you down, all these various things. Joshua brings the identical instruments that Francis brings. After all Joshua’s pedigree could be very excessive. He’s an Olympic gold medalist for crying out loud.
“On the finish of the day, he’s going to try to convey the strain, be on the entrance foot with that lengthy jab that he throws nicely, and land his large proper hand. Guess what? ‘The Predator’ Francis Ngannou goes to be doing the identical factor. So, it’s going to be a cosmetically pleasing combat.
“It’s going to return down to 1 factor, who lands that cash shot first, who has the larger coronary heart, who has extra check of fortitude to undergo darkish areas and proceed preventing with ardour and intent, and I really feel that’s the place we’re going to persevere.
“Francis Ngannou goes to beat him as a result of he’s simply going to be stronger than him in all facets.”
