Joshua Dominates Ngannou Hrgovic Unimpressed, Eyes IBF Title Shot
In a clash that unfolded at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua demonstrated his prowess by dismantling former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in just two rounds on the weekend. While Joshua's dominant victory left many in awe, not everyone was impressed. Cameroonian Ngannou, who had only one previous professional boxing match against Tyson Fury, put up a commendable performance against the WBC heavyweight champion. However, Joshua's power proved too much, as he landed five decisive punches, sending Ngannou to the canvas three times and securing a commanding win. Among those unimpressed was heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic, who boasts a record of 17-0. Hrgovic expressed his lack of surprise, stating, "I’m not so impressed. I thought it was going to end that way." The Croatian contender emphasized that the result was expected given Ngannou's limited experience in professional boxing. Hrgovic went on to highlight his satisfaction with Joshua defending the honor of the sport after Tyson Fury's underwhelming performance against Ngannou. He thanked Joshua for upholding the credibility of boxing. As the IBF number one contender, Hrgovic has a keen interest in the heavyweight landscape, especially considering the possibility of a title shot against Joshua. With current titleholder Oleksandr Usyk potentially facing Tyson Fury in a rematch, the IBF belt might become vacant, paving the way for a showdown between Hrgovic and Joshua. Expressing his readiness for the challenge, Hrgovic stated, "I would like to fight him whenever... I’m ready." The Croatian contender eagerly awaits the opportunity to contend for the IBF title, highlighting that the only hurdle could be Joshua's decision. In the dynamic world of heavyweight boxing, the spotlight now shifts to potential matchups and the unfolding narrative that could see Joshua defend his title against Hrgovic in the near future. #AnthonyJoshua #FrancisNgannou #FilipHrgovic #HeavyweightBoxing #IBFTitleShot #BoxingChampions
