AJ returns on March 8 in Saudi Arabia against the ex-UFC champion-turned heavyweight boxer.
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Anthony Joshua faces Francis Ngannou on March 8Credit: PA
It marks just Ngannou’s second boxing bout following his debut in October when he astonishingly floored but lost on points to Tyson Fury.
The Gypsy King threw everything at the MMA star during the ten-round crossover clash – including an accidental elbow.
And assistant coach Andy Lee watched on in amazement as the Gypsy King struggled to put a dent in the Cameroonian powerhouse.
He told Boxing Social: “Tyson hit him with a flush elbow and he didn’t even flinch.
“I think that you could hit that man with a baseball bat and he would still be there. You have got to respect him in that sense, and he can punch.
“Even though Joshua has the pedigree of being a really outstanding boxer, puncher, athlete, Olympic champion, unified world champion and all of that, you have got to favour him but it is not a foregone conclusion.”
Joshua, 34, had signed to fight Deontay Wilder, 38, in an anticipated blockbuster in Saudi.
But Wilder suffered a shock defeat to Lee’s boxer Joseph Parker, 32, so the super-fight was scrapped.
Instead, AJ turned to Ngannou, 37, who made such an impression in his debut bout against Fury, 35, which ended in a controversial split-decision.
But Lee – a former middleweight world champion – reckons Joshua has the upper hand having been given ten rounds of Ngannou to study.
He said: “People are going to be interested because Ngannou put on such a great performance against Tyson.
“It’s a great situation for Joshua because all of those unknowns that Tyson went up against have been dispelled now, the element of surprise in Ngannou is gone.
“You’ve got to give Ngannou credit, he was a lot more savvy and a lot better at boxing than anyone might’ve given him credit for.
“He’s quite clever, he is very patient as well and you can see that he is strong.
“Don’t underestimate being 280lbs of solid muscle, when you strip things back it is just two men and one of these guys is huge and is pure muscle.”
Fury with coach Andy LeeCredit: @bodypuncher
