Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou Odds, Prediction, & How to Watch

Jan 22, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Francis Ngannou celebrates the win against Ciryl Gane during UFC 270 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY SportsAnthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou goes down Friday night in Saudi ArabiaThe Friday boxing odds favor the world champion over the former UFC heavyweightRead below for Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou odds, prediction and tale of the tape

The boxing world is buzzing with anticipation for the heavyweight clash between former two-time unified world champion Anthony Joshua and former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou. This fascinating crossover fight pits one of boxing’s biggest stars against a fearsome MMA knockout artist looking to make his mark in a new sport.

The 12-round contest will take place on Friday, March 8th at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Oddsmakers currently have Joshua as a sizable -340 favorite, with Ngannou coming back at +260.

Let’s analyze the Friday boxing odds as we provide you our Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou prediction

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou Odds

In the Joshua vs Ngannou odds, “AJ” is a -340 favorite at DraftKings, giving him a 77% implied probability of winning.

The co-main event will see Rey Vargas defend his WBC featherweight title against Nick Ball.

Other bouts include Israil Madrimov vs Magomed Kurbanov for the vacant WBA super welterweight belt, Zhilei Zhang defending his WBO interim heavyweight strap against Joseph Parker, and a lightweight tilt between prospects Mark Chamberlain and Gavin Gwynne.

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Odds as of March 7, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on Joshua vs Ngannou. NC boxing fans can check out the DraftKings app in North Carolina for a special pre-reg offer. 

Joshua vs Ngannou How to Watch

The main card begins at 2pm ET / 11am PT, with the Joshua vs Ngannou main event ring walks expected around 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm PT. The fight will be broadcast live on DAZN pay-per-view.

Your main card start times for tomorrow's 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 event 🌍#JoshuaNgannou, live worldwide on DAZN on 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬, March 8. Buy now at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv #KnockoutChaos | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/IuzEoFXtnP

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 7, 2024

Anthony Joshua Betting Analysis

Joshua, 33, is looking to continue his climb back to the top of the heavyweight division after suffering back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Since then, the British star has reeled off three straight wins, stopping Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin.

While Joshua showed glimpses of his old dominant self in those bouts, there are still questions about his ability to handle elite competition after the Usyk losses. Joshua has shown vulnerabilities in the past that could play into Ngannou’s hands.

He has been dropped multiple times in his career, including suffering a shocking upset TKO loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019. Joshua’s stamina has also been questioned, as he seemed to tire in the later rounds of the Usyk fights. If Joshua can’t keep Ngannou off of him, his questionable chin and cardio could become major liabilities.

Anthony Joshua Recent Fights

Date	Opponent	Result
2023-12-23	Otto Wallin	W-RTD
2023-08-12	Robert Helenius	W-KO
2023-04-01	Jermaine Franklin Jr	W-UD
2022-08-20	Oleksandr Usyk	L-SD

Francis Ngannou Betting Analysis

Ngannou, meanwhile, is coming off a surprisingly competitive showing in his pro boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October. The 36-year-old Cameroonian lost a split decision but had his moments, even dropping Fury at one point.

Prior to that, Ngannou was the UFC’s heavyweight champion, known for his terrifying punching power. He won the title by knocking out Stipe Miocic in March 2021 and defended it once against Ciryl Gane before leaving the UFC over contract disputes.

For Ngannou to pull off the upset, he needs to make it an ugly fight and land one of his signature power shots. Even the best boxers would have trouble withstanding Ngannou’s freakish strength if he connects cleanly. The former UFC champ wants to cut off the ring, force Joshua to trade in close quarters, and test his ability to take a heavyweight bomb.

Francis Ngannou Recent Fights

Date	Opponent	Result
2023-10-28	Tyson Fury	L-SD
2022-01-22	Ciryl Gane	W-UD
2021-03-27	Stipe Miocic	W-KO
2020-05-09	Jairzinho Rozenstruik	W-KO
2019-06-29	Junior Dos Santos	W-KO

Ngannou’s last five fights span both MMA and boxing. His loss to Fury in October 2023 was his pro boxing debut. Prior to that, Ngannou’s previous four fights were all wins in the UFC, including winning and defending the UFC heavyweight title.

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou Prediction

This is a classic matchup of boxer vs puncher. Joshua has the clear edge in technical boxing skill, having won an Olympic gold medal and held multiple world titles. However, Ngannou’s otherworldly punching power gives him a chance to end the fight at any moment.

Joshua vs Ngannou Tale of the Tape

JoshuaVSNgannou

27-3	Record	*0-1
23	Knockouts	0
6’6″ (198 cm)	Height	6’4″ (193 cm)
82″ (208 cm)	Reach	83″ (211 cm)
Orthodox	Stance	Orthodox

*Ngannou’s record only includes his one professional boxing match, the decision loss to Tyson Fury in October 2023. However, he went 17-3 with 12 KOs in his MMA career, including several highlight-reel stoppages.

For Joshua to win, he needs to use his jab and footwork to keep Ngannou at range and avoid getting caught with big shots. Joshua’s stamina has been questioned, so he can’t afford to get into a brawl. He should look to systematically break Ngannou down and win a decision or late stoppage.

Ngannou’s path to victory is landing one of his signature bombs on Joshua’s questionable chin. We’ve seen Joshua hurt and stopped before by lesser punchers than Ngannou. If the former UFC champ can cut off the ring and force Joshua to exchange in the pocket, he has a real shot at scoring the upset KO.

In the end, Joshua’s superior boxing pedigree should carry him to a hard-fought decision win or late TKO. But if he gets reckless and leaves an opening, Ngannou certainly has the power to turn the lights out.

Pick: Anthony Joshua by KO/TKO/DQ (-155 at DraftKings)

 

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