Carl Froch: “Francis Ngannou will ‘empty the tank’ in first three rounds to KO AJ”
Former super middleweight world champion, Carl Froch, has provided his unique analysis into this Friday’s fight night between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
The heavyweights clash in the capital of Riyadh over 10-rounds on March 8, with the winner poised to be in pole position for a shot at the undisputed championship next.
Puncher-turned-pundit, ‘The Cobra’ Carl Froch, has been enjoying life on the safe side of the ropes where he likes to speak his mind about the sweet science, well known for his outspoken, no-nonsense views.
AJ is someone that Froch has criticised quite regularly and he began his fight breakdown with what he believes former UFC champion Francis Ngannou will need to do to beat the Brit.
Speaking exclusively to Grosvenor Sport, Carl Froch said, “He needs to get up close to him, stick it on him, move his head like Mike Tyson to get close to AJ and when he’s close push on him, lean on him, hit him around the body and throw that big hayemaker.
“He has to go for it in the first three rounds. Empty the tank. I think he should go for broke, he has to go out aggressively. If he sits on his back foot and allows AJ to take the centre of the ring, he’s going to get outboxed. AJ will be too smart.
“You have to give AJ credit for what he’s done in the sport, he’s taken on all-comers, he’s been 24 rounds with Usyk. He’s shared the ring with the best of the best, so really, if Ngannou doesn’t get close to him he is doing himself an injustice, because he’s definitely got a puncher’s chance if he closes the gap and goes for broke.
“That’s going to be his game plan. Look what Ruiz did when he connected and even when Dillian Whyte hurt him, Kiltschko had him down. We know AJ can be hurt.”
However, despite the advice and images conjured of Francis prevailing, the Brit backs his own to do the business, “You’ve seen Ngannou drop Fury with that hook, but realistically it’s as easy as AJ wants to make it. And I think it could be really easy for him if AJ just boxes behind his jab with plenty of movement.
“He doesn’t want to run and make it a boring fight, he should throw combinations and stay in range and have a bit of a mix up because he’s being paid a lot of money, he needs to have a go, but it’s as easy as AJ wants to make it.”
However, in fine Froch fashion, he also took time to knock the Brit back down again, “If AJ gets chinned by Ngannou I’m not going to say he should retire, but I don’t know what the point would be to carry on. It’d be embarrassing.
“If he got beaten by Ngannou it would not be good for him mentally, where would he go after that? Ngannou has a puncher’s chance and if he sticks it on AJ who knows. I’m still not expecting Ngannou to be good enough there with the former two-time champion.”