Joshua vs. Ngannou: A Tale of the Expected

Joshua vs. Ngannou: A Tale of the Expected

The longer you spend in the dark caves of boxing, the more cynical you become. The long tunnels that are inhabited by hypocrisy, blatant lies, and so much more, you realise that boxing is in serious need of a deep clean. An abyss that is governed by the dirty dollar.

It will never come, of course. The not-so Noble Art will always carry around a stench of the unsavoury. Fans are treated with disdain, hoping that they remain gullible or stupid enough to carry on parting with their hard-earned cash to keep the money men in the lives that they have been accustomed to.

The sport has long since cast aside its last remaining semblance of credibility. Making enough of the dollar the primary focus to justify practically anything. The hard sell, the multi-million dollar promos, hoping that we will buy anything, and too many times we do. Splash enough of the Saudi cash around, hoping everything else that happens in that part of the world is forgotten. In truth, it is. On that score, they have won. Why should human rights matter when we can have the big fights that should get made anyway?

We have witnessed a little more this past week or so of why boxing will likely always now exist in the shadows. A niche sport that once existed and shone so bright in the mainstream. A diluted sport in many ways. The good fights that are thankfully now getting made, are sadly being overshadowed by the never-ending circus that follows either side of them.

Jake Paul beat another hapless foe last weekend in a fight that nobody even tried to hoodwink anybody that it would be anywhere near competitive and the so-called social media sensation finished his week by announcing he would next fight a 57-year-old Mike Tyson. As if to try and match the craziness, news broke soon after that a 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao could return to face one Conor Benn later this year. A retirement that never was, about to be ended to trade blows with a fighter that has an elevated profile because of his surname and two failed drug tests. Benn certainly hasn’t got this far because of what he has accomplished in a boxing ring. But when does that matter anymore? Hopefully, even the Saudi chequebook has a limit.

Someone once said that everything in boxing is a lie. A land of pugilistic make-believe. A world of virtual reality where nothing is ever quite what it seems. Akin to watching the latest Marvel blockbuster and hoping that at some point it will all make sense. Trust me, it never does.

Last night, or should I more accurately say this morning, another insanely and avoidable long night saw to that, Anthony Joshua added another little highlight reel knockout to his collection. A stunning demolition of the former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the latest money in the bank Saudi extravaganza. On the surface, it was a highly impressive stoppage victory over a fighter who had taken Tyson Fury to a split decision in his professional debut in 2023. A points victory for Fury that was close enough for some to debate and shout the ever-tiresome and rarely accurate robbery cry.

Carl Frampton on punditry duties for TNT Sports that night probably helped with the robbery shouts that swiftly followed Fury overcoming that shock early knockdown to justifiably retain his unbeaten record and lineal heavyweight honours, with his over-the-top analysis that Ngannou had been denied a rightful victory.

Frampton brought back memories of Harry Carpenter, who all those years ago had Henry Cooper beating Joe Bugner, and as a result, created one of British boxing’s greatest ever myths. Bugner was never forgiven and ended his career as Aussie Joe.

But the somewhat manufactured controversy and the unexpected performance from the former MMA star led to Ngannou being invited back to fight the former two-time heavyweight champion of the world. Another go on boxing’s money wheel.

Ngannou earned a world ranking. Of course, he did. But while his effort against an under-prepared Fury was admirable and heroic, it masked reality. Ngannou got lucky in a boxing sense, but lightning was never likely to strike twice. Make no mistake, Ngannou was made for Joshua. But the British heavyweight was nevertheless seriously impressive in doing what was expected of him. Most, except the deluded, knew Joshua would win. But not many thought, even fewer said, that he would blow Ngannou away like that. Joshua deserves immense credit for what he served up and nobody can seriously blame him for accepting the assignment. And the millions with it.

The powerful right hand that ended the slaughter in the second round was devastating, although trying to label it as one of the best right hands ever thrown is ludicrous and an insult to the likes of Thomas Hearns, Julian Jackson and many others. As ever in the modern day, context and balance are lacking. Ngannou was a sitting duck and more than arguably he shouldn’t have been let back out after suffering his second knockdown a few moments prior. We didn’t need to see it. Ngannou certainly didn’t need to feel it. But hey, there was a viral clip to create.

Ngannou said he will return to boxing, although it will probably be with his marketability and earning power seriously reduced. He learned in the early hours of Saturday morning that boxing at the highest level isn’t what he thought it was after his first outing in the ring. Ngannou also learned that not every fighter will give him a helping hand like Fury did. Boxing is a dangerous world to enter and there were worrying moments after Joshua had flatlined him. I’m not sure I want to see anymore and the more we go to the well to risk defying logic and common sense, the more we risk a tragic ending. Money isn’t everything. Health is. Ngannou has earned life-changing money in his two fights in a world where he doesn’t really belong. The type of money he couldn’t earn with his previous employer and good luck to him. A thoroughly decent and inspirational man who dared to test free agency and it has handsomely paid off. But we might be at the stage where enough is enough. At 34 and 37 respectively, Joshua and Ngannou both still have a future. Albeit in completely different sports.

Joshua will quite rightly celebrate his late career revival, count his money and wait while Fury and Oleksandr Usyk do their thing. They will have two fights. Joshua will have to be patient and hope Fury is the last man standing. Joshua will fight again while he waits. He’s in a good place and you can’t really criticise Joshua for taking the fight with Ngannou. In many ways, it made all the sense in the world. It was in truth, easy money.

Eddie Hearn, his ever-faithful promoter, says his fighter is the best heavyweight on the planet and will beat Tyson Fury. But he forgets about Usyk, the elephant in that land of make-believe. You know the fighter that beat Joshua twice and may beat Fury in May. Another little mirage in the desert. Hearn should know the road ahead is never predictable.

But the win over Otto Wallin and now Ngannou has been impressive and certainly a far cry from the fighter who seemingly was devoid of confidence and caught between styles and his own thoughts. Those wins may flatter to deceive a little, but the hook-up with Ben Davison does seem to have reignited that old fire. All of a sudden Joshua seems a reborn fighter. Another reign as the heavyweight champion of the world can’t be ruled out. But he will need to beat tougher opposition than Wallin and Ngannou to fully convince.

The signs are good, but the win over Ngannou was still a tale of the expected. Sometimes, you have to remember that. What we came to see in October, we saw this morning. It just might be nothing more than that.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing