Top Ten Best Fights of the Week: UFC 299, PFL Europe, KO Chaos and More

8 – Francis Ngannou vs Anthony Joshua

10 days out!! #JoshuaNgannou #KnockoutChaos @RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/fuKAcXt7Rr

— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) February 27, 2024

This Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua (27-3) and Francis Ngannou (0-1) will meet in an event billed as ‘Knockout Chaos.’ Originally Joshua was signed to fight Deontay Wilder, but following Wilder’s loss to Joseph Parker, Ngannou became the next biggest available fight. Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, shocked the world last year in a losing effort against the current Lineal and WBC Heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury. Originally seen as an easy gimmick fight for Fury, Ngannou knocked Tyson down in round three and took the champion to a split decision. Fury vs. Usyk was pushed back from an original December date because of the damage Fury sustained at Ngannou’s massive hands.

The former unified heavyweight champion had a successful 2023 campaign in his own right as AJ went 3-0 with wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin. The Wallin fight this past December was expected to be difficult for Joshua; the Swedish contender had only a single defeat at the hands of Tyson Fury by decision. The Fury/Wallin fight is infamous for the large gash on the face of Fury caused by a punch that, if the fight was stopped, would have been a TKO win for Wallin. Joshua, having established a relationship with trainer Ben Davison, made quick word of the Swede. The fight was over in just five rounds after the corner decided that Wallin had taken enough punishment. That win made Anthony Joshua the number two IBF contender, which puts him in position to fight Filip Hrgovic for the title if it gets vacated later this year.

With a win from either man, they become a likely candidate to fight the winner of Fury and Usyk’s upcoming legacy-defining undisputed HW championship bout. Joshua has a lot of advantages in this matchup: an Olympic pedigree, years of world championship experience in boxing, and advance knowledge of Ngannou’s boxing skills, so UFC alum Francis has less advantage from the surprise factor that he had against Fury. Joshua and his team know the possibilities that come with an impressive win here, so thery should treat Ngannou as a worthy and dangerous opponent. Ngannou will look to land his power shots on Joshua and test a chin that has failed the Englishman before. Additionally, Ngannou’s MMA background and overall build makes him aptly equipped to handle Anthony Joshua up close in clinch positions. If Ngannou can hurt Joshua early, that will be his window for success; the time Joshua has to box in open space will be where the Olympian finds his significant advantage. Though it may not be the single best fight of the weekend from a pure competition perspective, it may just be the most impactful.
–Philip Walsh