Ngannou’s trainer tells AJ to ‘beware and be warned’

Francis Ngannou’s trainer Dewey Cooper has warned Anthony Joshua of his fighter’s “gargantuan power”, guaranteeing victory in Friday’s crossover super-fight in Saudi Arabia. Joshua suffered successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk before winning his last three bouts, his most recent victory coming against Otto Wallin in December – a dominant five-round win. But Ngannou represents a […]

Francis Ngannou’s trainer Dewey Cooper has warned Anthony Joshua of his fighter’s “gargantuan power”, guaranteeing victory in Friday’s crossover super-fight in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua suffered successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk before winning his last three bouts, his most recent victory coming against Otto Wallin in December – a dominant five-round win.

But Ngannou represents a dangerous next opponent for the British boxing star, with the former UFC heavyweight champion knocking down the undefeated Tyson Fury when making his professional boxing debut in October, only to lose out on a contentious split-decision.

“Can he go one better? Absolutely. That’s the goal and that’s the plan,” Cooper told Sky Sports.

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“In the Tyson Fury fight, we told you guys he was going to at least drop him once, that he could win the fight. We mean our words; this is not poetry, not fantasy.

“I know Joshua is your guy, you’re supposed to support him, but just know what he’s up against. He is up against a man who has proven life wrong from childhood all the way up.”

Francis Ngannou has already given Anthony Joshua a chilling prediction of his strategy for March 8th.

Cooper added of the Cameroonian: “He has gargantuan power. It’s natural, in both fists. If he lands clean, bad things are going to happen for Joshua.

“His precision is on point, his mentality is on point. It’s going to be one heck of a fight.”

Ngannou’s move into boxing came after he won 17 and lost just three of his 20 MMA bouts, with the 37-year-old the reigning heavyweight champion when he departed UFC.