Joshua next for Ngannou

STRIKE while the iron is hot.

This appears to be the battle credo of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Last October 28, Ngannou made his debut in pro boxing by going the distance against reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Joshua next for Ngannou

Fury’s title was not at stake, but it was a real contest and Ngannou stood his ground.

Ngannou knocked down Fury in the third round with a left hook and held his own the rest of the way.

Fury won by split decision, but it was Ngannou’s performance that merited serious attention and a thunderous applause.

For somebody who was making his maiden appearance in pro boxing, Ngannou stunned many by going the distance against a reigning heavyweight champion.

Do not look now but Ngannou is looking to pull off another shocker as he takes on another highly accomplished adversary in only his second professional contest.

Ngannou is set to trade punches with former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Joshua, who totes a record of 27-3 with 24 knockouts, first won the IBF heavyweight title in April 2016 when he halted Charles Martin in two rounds.

Three years later, in April 2017, Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko in 11 rounds to unify the IBF and WBA heavyweight crowns.

In March 2018, Joshua unified the IBF, WBA and WBO crowns by outpointing Joseph Parker.

In June 2019, Joshua absorbed his first pro defeat after 22 straight wins when he was stunned in 7 rounds by Andy Ruiz. Joshua was knocked down four times before the referee pulled the plug.

Joshua defeated Ruiz in a rematch in December 2019, but not a few thought he was a different boxer. Joshua appeared to lack confidence and this showed when he yielded the IBF, WBA and WBO titles to Oleksandr Usyk on a unanimous decision in September 2021.

Joshua, 34, remains a solid contender for the heavyweight title.

In fact, many cannot understand why he decided to face the dangerous Ngannou.

Joshua is risking both his lofty ranking and reputation in the Ngannou fight.

“In my opinion, this fight adds zero credibility to AJ’s resume,” posted former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis in his X (formerly Twitter) account. “He’s supposed to win this fight and when he does, what does he gain or learn by beating someone in his second heavyweight fight? If he loses, then it’s an absolute disaster. The same stood for Fury and it almost cost him everything.”

Money, of course, is the biggest reason why the fight is happening.

Ngannou reportedly bankrolled more than $10 million for the Fury fight. In the UFC, Ngannou’s highest purse was only within the neighborhood of $600,000.

Owing to the mammoth purse he realized in pro boxing, Ngannou placed in the backburner plans to return to the world of mixed martial arts.

Joshua stands to pocket more money in the Ngannou fight.

Perhaps it is Joshua’s belief that Ngannou just caught Fury on an off-night. Joshua is looking at easy money if this is the case.

Still, issues surrounding the fragile chin and shaky psyche of Joshua make a puncher like Ngannou a live underdog.

Joshua has been criticized for being too tentative. The shellacking Joshua took from Ruiz left his confidence, and possibly even his killer instinct, in tatters. Ngannou is looking to exploit these dents in Joshua’s armor when they meet.

If Ngannou beats Joshua, he will receive a major boost in the rankings of the four (WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF) organizations.

Ngannou may even take Joshua’s spot in the race to face the winner of the Fury-Usyk showdown for the undisputed heavyweight title on February 17.

Ngannou has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

At age 37, though, Ngannou is fighting on borrowed time and is looking to accelerate the pace. A heavyweight champ in only his third pro fight? Whoa.

In 1978, Leon Spinks won the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight by beating Muhammad Ali.

Ngannou is plotting something much special.