'I'm not sure anyone can hurt him' – Joseph Parker warns Anthony Joshua that Francis Ngannou's could be impossible to KO after Tyson Fury fight

05/03/2024 10:00

Joseph Parker has told talkSPORT that Francis Ngannou may be impossible to knock out.

The former UFC heavyweight world champion was only ever beaten by decision in his three MMA losses – the last of which came in 2018.

Of course, he also lost his professional boxing debut to Tyson Fury last year, but that was a close and controversial decision in which he did not appear hurt at any point.

On the contrary in fact, Ngannou had Fury down in round three and seemingly hurt in the eighth too.

Now, he faces Anthony Joshua on Friday night in Riyadh and Parker does not expect an easy night for AJ.

Especially after seeing what happened with his friend and training partner Fury.

Parker told White and Jordan on talkSPORT: “I think it’s gonna be a very tough fight.

“I feel like Ngannou can take it all. Listen, he can take elbows, he can take kicks, he can take punches.

“I’m not really sure if anyone can hurt him.

“If he does get hurt in this fight from Anthony Joshua I’d be very surprised.”

In contrast, AJ’s friend and training partner Derek Chisora is adamant he will win by KO in the end.

"This is AJ's hardest fight out of all of his fights,” Chisora told talkSPORT Fight Night on Saturday, “For the simple reason – it's the unknown.

"He's only got ten rounds with Tyson Fury, the rest has been in MMA, it's rough fighting, uppercuts and all that other craziness.

"There's so much pressure on AJ, he's representing boxing, he's representing all of us right now.

“For himself, his name, dignity, so it comes with so much pressure now when you’re fighting somebody you don't know.

"Francis doesn't have any bad habits because he's only been boxing for a year-and-a-half, when you're a professional you have bad habits.

“But when you're an amateur and you're beginning, you understand how to throw the jab, when you understand the game more you forget you've got so many bad habits happening." 

In conclusion, Chisora predicted: "It's going to be a hard fight for him, but I can guarantee you this – [Joshua] is going to knock him out."