Ngannou vs Joshua: Boxing Pundit Speaks on Why Ex UFC Star Deserves a Shot Against Other Top Boxers

• Francis Ngannou is set to face Anthony Joshua in his second professional fight
• The ex-UFC star lost his boxing debut to Tyson Fury late last year in Saudi Arabia
• The Cameroonian is making a return to MMA after his bout with Joshua on Friday

Nigerian boxing pundit Bamidele Bakare has suggested that Francis Ngannou deserved a chance to face other top heavyweight boxers after the fight against Anthony Joshua.

The Cameroonian boxer will go head-to-head with another top heavyweight fighter after facing Tyson Fury in his first professional bout.

The British-Nigerian boxer and the former UFC heavyweight champion's bout is slated for Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on March 8.

In an exclusive interview with Sports Brief, Bakare claimed that the former UFC champions should be given a shot against lower-ranked fighters in the heavyweight division.

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"Ngannou is already in the heavyweight division; he's fought against the biggest guys in the division right now, considering their track records," he said.

"He is already taking shots in the heavyweight category; Tyson Fury is one of the biggest heavyweight boxers in the world and AJ's two-time world champion, so he's already in that league.

"But after this bout, win or lose, I feel they should give him a test with some other boxers who might not even be in the top 10; they should get him tested.

"Boxers like Filip Hrgovic, Zhilei Zhang, those fighters he doesn't even expect as they are not in top five but are very good boxers.

"They're boxers that ready and hungry, different from AJ and Fury who have both held the champion's belt, but still have something to prove.

"I feel Ngannou should try to explore with some other boxers in the division apart from the top guys because it's not all the top boxers that can beat fighters who aren't in their rankings, that's what I feel.

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"Big ups to everyone he's (Ngannou) challenged, and I feel he deserve a heavyweight title shot, but after he's been tested thoroughly."

MMA pundit on Ngannou's chances against Joshua

Sports Brief earlier reported on MMA pundit, Afolabi Ojabowale, sharing his thoughts on Ngannou's chances against Joshua when they face on Friday.

The Cameroonian boxer had his first professional boxing bout against Fury in 2023, and he impressed a lot of followers of the combat sport.