By Daniel Edu
British boxer Anthony Joshua, born in Nigeria, is determined to use his upcoming bout with Francis Ngannou to make a powerful statement in the heavyweight boxing world. The clash between Joshua and cross-over heavyweight boxer Ngannou is scheduled for March 8, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, after dropping Tyson Fury in the 4th round of their 2023 bout, secured the opportunity to face the former two-time heavyweight champion. Despite losing to Fury in a split decision, Ngannou garnered immense praise for his performance, nearly pulling off a historic upset.
With Joshua, who has faced three defeats in the last four years, Ngannou is expected to face a challenging opponent. However, in an interview with Sky Sports, the 34-year-old British boxer expressed his singular plan – to knock out Ngannou and leave an indelible mark.
Joshua stated, “I believe I can knock him out. Definitely. I would love to knock him out and make a statement. Physically I feel strong, feeling good. Strong enough to get the job done, and mentally I’m in a place where I’m ready for war. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
He added, “Mentally I don’t worry so much about my opponent and look at what my opponent can bring to me and think, ‘How can I overcome these challenges they present?’ I work really hard to up my game and look forward to showing everything I’ve worked on.” Joshua is gearing up for an intense battle, confident in his ability to emerge victorious against Ngannou.
