Carl Froch Raises Concerns: Joshua-Ngannou Bout-“He Might Struggle … It’s Not Good For Boxing”
In a surprising turn of events, the world of heavyweight boxing is buzzing with excitement as Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou are confirmed to face off in a ten-round bout scheduled for March 8. The showdown will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promising a clash of titans that has fans eagerly anticipating the outcome. The announcement follows Joshua's recent victory over Otto Wallin, where he showcased his prowess in the ring. Ngannou, coming off an impressive showing against Tyson Fury despite a split decision loss, has elevated his standing in the professional boxing realm after a remarkable debut. Former super-middleweight champion turned Hall of Famer, Carl Froch, shared his initial thoughts on the upcoming battle. "It's not a bad fight. It's a fight that Anthony Joshua could potentially struggle with. We saw [Ngannou] against Tyson Fury, and Tyson Fury struggled. Was that because Ngannou is really good or Fury didn't quite turn up? I think the latter … but Ngannou was tidy." While acknowledging the excitement surrounding the match, Froch expressed concerns about the timing. He questioned Joshua's decision to enter the ring with Ngannou, emphasizing Joshua's ambition to become a three-time heavyweight champion without a clear title at stake. Froch also mentioned his preferred contenders for Joshua, including Filip Hrgovic and Zhilei Zhang, casting doubt on these matchups if Joshua goes ahead with Ngannou. "The Hrgovic fight's big – that could potentially be for the IBF title – the Zhilei Zhang fight, that's a fight I want to see Anthony Joshua in. We're getting further and further away from these fights happening if he jumps in there with Ngannou," Froch stated. Despite the anticipation surrounding the bout, Froch, a Hall of Famer, expressed reservations about the motivation behind the fight. "This fight is gonna be acceptable because Ngannou did so well against Fury, but let’s be honest, this is a cash grab out in Saudi Arabia, and I don’t think it’s good for heavyweight boxing." As fans eagerly await the heavyweight clash, the undercard is expected to follow the standards set by previous Riyadh Season events. There is even speculation about a potential matchup between Deontay Wilder and Zhang, adding more intrigue to an already highly anticipated event. #JoshuaNgannou #boxing #CarlFroch #AnthonyJoshua #FrancisNgannou
