Fight fans, are you as confident as Eddie Hearn is of Anthony Joshua beating Francis Ngannou on March 8? Remember how confident Tyson Fury was in October before he got knocked down by the former UFC heavyweight champion? And that was Ngannou’s first foray in boxing.
However, it appears Joshua is taking this Ngannou fight much more seriously than “The Gypsy King.” He remembers his lesson from the Andy Ruiz Jr. fight in 2019, where he got dropped by Jarrell Miller’s replacement opponent inside Madison Square Garden and lost the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles. “AJ” is as determined as ever to head back to the top of boxing and become a three-time heavyweight champion.
On a three-fight win streak, all in 2023, Joshua faces someone in Ngannou with severe knockout power. Joshua has gone through a power surge of his own in his last few fights and will try to match Ngannou’s KO threat while also maintaining a winning strategy.
Joshua is the favorite against Ngannou, just like Fury was. If Joshua finishes the job without issues, what would be next for the Watford-born fighter?
WATCH: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou, exclusively live on DAZN
Will Anthony Joshua fight Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk winner?
Even if Joshua wins, he will have to wait for the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk on May 18. The fight to determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 will create plenty of buzz and interest, especially for Joshua.
Eddie Hearn believes the General Authority for Entertainment chair Turki Alalshikh will be true to his word and book a fight between Joshua and Fury if both Brits win.
“That is why we’re here in this fight,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “His Excellency [Alalshikh] said to us the winner of AJ and Ngannou will fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk… I’m telling you, he knocks Tyson Fury out, but we’ve just got to get over this hurdle on Friday night, and I know that His Excellency will have AJ stopping Ngannou and Fury beating Usyk – fingers crossed – [then] there is no way in the world he will not make that fight.
“The landlord is in town to collect his rent, that’s what it is. Come over. Knock Ngannou out. Do a job. Get paid. Go back and smash up the winner of Fury-Usyk.”
MORE: Who will win Joshua vs. Ngannou?
Fury beating Usyk is a must. And if Usyk beats Fury, Joshua would look to face Usyk for a third time, where he is 0-2 against the Ukrainian.
However, ESPN reported Fury-Usyk has a two-way rematch clause. If that holds in the face of Alalshikh’s enthusiasm, Joshua, Fury, and Hearn must pause any ideas of a future fight.
Will Anthony Joshua fight Filip Hrgovic?
Should the rematch clause comes into play for Fury-Usyk, Joshua will want to keep himself busy. Hearn discussed another name at the top of the heavyweight division Joshua could face: Filip Hrgovic.
Hrgovic is a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and top of the IBF rankings. The sanctioning body is famously rigid when it comes to its regulations and intends to strip Fury or Usyk of the IBF heavyweight title if there is a rematch. Hrgovic is 100% in play for that belt. Joshua, ranked number three (the number two spot is vacant), would face him.
“If AJ is triumphant, he will fight Filip Hrgovic for a world title, which is fine,” Hearn at one point told IFL TV via DAZN. “Then we’ll fight the winner of Fury vs. Usyk.”
A Joshua-Hrgovic fight was rumored for early 2024 before the Ngannou fight got booked. It is one of the only fights that makes sense for Joshua in a crowded heavyweight division.
Would Anthony Joshua retire after beating Francis Ngannou?
The short and obvious answer is no.
Joshua has world title aspirations and will not stop competing after facing the former MMA champion. The 34-year-old won three fights in 2023 and looks to continue his momentum in 2024.
MORE: Why is Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou on a Friday?
Regarding when he will retire, he insists it will be on his terms.
“When I just can’t be bothered anymore,” Joshua told BoxNation. “When you make it about money you make silly decisions. In the fight game, you have to face the music, money can’t be a driving force.
“It’s because I have the chance to be great at something. It’s tough, don’t get me wrong. When’s enough? When I feel like I can’t get any better, when I can’t be bothered going back to the well.”
