Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou Preview and Free Pick

Finally, the fight everyone has been waiting for! Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou is the clash of titans the world has been anticipating.

On March 8, 2024, former unified heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a historic 10-round boxing match. 

This battle for fighting supremacy pits two of the heaviest men on the planet against each other. Joshua is a sweet scientist with immaculate technique and fundamentals. Ngannou is an intimidating knockout artist with devastating one-punch power. 

When these two goliaths collide, expect fireworks. Their powerful punches promise amazing action and highlight-reel knockouts. This is more than a fight, it’s an all-time event. 

On March 8 at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, the eyes of the combat sports world will be on Joshua and Ngannou. Get ready for a war to settle the score.

When and Where?

Friday, March 8, 2:00 pm ET at the Kingdom Arena, Saudi Arabia

Ring walks time:

(Estimated) 6:00 pm ET

Moneyline odds:

Anthony Joshua 1.32 

Francis Ngannou 4.265

Where Can I Watch it?

DAZN

Why Bet on Anthony Joshua?

Anthony Joshua, often referred to as “AJ,” was born in Watford, England in 1989. He began boxing at the age of 18 and had an incredibly successful amateur career. 

In 2008, Joshua won the gold medal at the AIBA Youth World Championships in the super heavyweight division. That marked the beginning of his rise as one of Britain’s top prospects.

Joshua earned a spot representing Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He reached the final and defeated defending Olympic champion and local favorite Roberto Cammarelle to win the gold medal in front of a large home crowd. Winning the Olympic gold medal as a representative of the host country propelled Joshua to stardom in Great Britain.

Anthony Joshua exploded onto the professional boxing scene after winning the gold medal in the super heavyweight division at the 2012 London Olympics. After turning pro, he swept the heavyweight division, racking 23 consecutive wins with 21 knockouts. 

With 24 wins against three losses and 21 knockouts, he has an impressive resume. He is a former unified world champion who has faced elite competition throughout his career. This fight with Ngannou represents Joshua’s chance to reclaim his place at the top.

Why Bet on Francis Ngannou?

Francis Ngannou grew up in poverty in a small village in Cameroon. As a child, he worked in a sand quarry to help support his family. Ngannou dreamed of becoming a professional boxer and trained at a local boxing gym. However, opportunities were limited in Cameroon. 

At the age of 20, he emigrated to France, in search of a better life. He was homeless for a period, living on the streets of Paris. To make ends meet, Ngannou worked odd jobs and continued training at a local MMA gym. He was quickly drawn to the sport and decided to pursue MMA instead of boxing.

Ngannou’s power, athleticism, and work ethic in the gym earned him the opportunity to turn pro in MMA. After just five professional fights, he signed with UFC in 2015. Francis continued to hone his skills, knocking out top heavyweight contenders to earn a title shot in 2018. Although he came up short in that fight, he captured the UFC heavyweight title in 2021 and has established himself as one of the most feared fighters in MMA history.

Final Betting Analysis: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou

This is an intriguing matchup between two powerful heavyweight fighters. Joshua is the more polished and technical boxer, while Ngannou is the more powerful puncher, but is still raw in some aspects of pure boxing.

Joshua likes to use his excellent jab to control distance and set up powerful hits, especially his strong right hand. He also has good footwork and head movement. Ngannou is ferocious, especially with his overhand right, and stalks opponents relentlessly. However, he can be a bit predictable at times.

Joshua will look to establish his jab and box from the outside, while Ngannou wants to cut off the ring and connect his big power shots. The former is used to longer fights, while the latter has never gone more than five rounds as a professional boxer. Cardio could become a factor.

For this fight, our prediction is a win for Anthony Joshua by KO in the eighth round.

Go for a victory for the boxing star at 1.32. If you bet $100 at such odds, you could get $32 for a total payout of $132.

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou Betting Pick: Anthony Joshua