FRANCIS NGANNOU has vowed to give Anthony Joshua’s chin a good test in their shock showdown.
The former UFC heavyweight champion will throw down with the golden boy of British boxing in a lucrative March melee in Saudi Arabia.
MATCHROOM BOXINGAnthony Joshua will be back in action in Saudi Arabia in March[/caption]
GETTYAJ will face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou[/caption]
PANgannou has vowed to hand AJ his second professional stoppage loss[/caption]
Ngannou, 37, bagged the Riyadh rumble with AJ on the back of a stunning display against Tyson Fury last October, in which he dropped the Gypsy King.
And The Predator is confident the left hook that floored the WBC heavyweight king will put AJ out for the count.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, the Cameroonian clubber said: “If AJ takes the punch that Fury took, I don’t guarantee that he’s standing up.
“I’ve heard that he doesn’t have a chin. I’m going to find out.”
Long-time AJ promoter Eddie Hearn was critical of Ngannou’s boxing skills prior to his shock display against Fury, who eked out a split decision victory over the MMA man mountain.
The Matchroom Boxing chief has somewhat changed his opinion, although he believes Ngannou will be “easy work” for Watford warrior AJ.
Ngannou, however, plans to give both men a rude awakening with another shock display in Riyadh.
He said of Hearn’s comments: “Eddie is a promoter, that’s a routine for him.
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“He says the same thing all the time, just not about Francis Ngannou but somebody else.
“That’s just what he does. The date is set.
“It’s two months from now, and if any of them think they’re going to have easy money, that’s too bad for them.”
Ngannou is so confident of getting the better of AJ that he’s already mentally drawing up plans to rematch the Nigerian-born Brit in Africa.
He said: “At the end of the day, it’s great stuff for both of us.
“He could be my brother and I’d still fight him because it elevates us both, it elevates the sport, it elevates the continent.
“It’s not about a fight.
“You are not fighting somebody because you hate him, you fight him because it’s a challenge and the fight always elevates both fighters.
“Eddie Hearn said a lot of s***, but one thing he said that makes sense is maybe a potential rematch in Africa with Joshua.
“I think that sounds cool. We will call that Black Excellence.”