Wake up call - Joshua vs Ngannou
On October 28, 2023, dominant former UFC champion Francis Ngannou impressed the combat sports world by holding off WBC world champion Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout, despite his defeat by split decision.
However, during his second professional duel, when he faced Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia last Friday, Ngannou suffered a violent knockout. in the first round after receiving a devastating right from Joshua. Although visibly shaken, the referee did not stop the fight, allowing Joshua to land another powerful blow in the second round, sending Ngannou to the ground unconscious. Despite his popularity and potential, Ngannou was unable to repeat his remarkable performance against the man nicknamed AJ.
Joshua, with this victory, therefore reaffirms his position in the heavyweight category and announces his intention to face the winner of the fight between Fury and Oleksander Usyk for the unified title.
For his part, Ngannou has already planned his return to the UFC and is due to face Renan Ferreira in 2024. This fight marks a turning point for both fighters, with Joshua continuing to rise to the top of boxing's premier division, and Ngannou needing to regain his form in the cage at the UFC.
100% Mexican Cinco de Mayo
Mexican champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will attempt another defense of his super middleweight titles against compatriot Jaime Munguia on May 5 in Las Vegas.
Alvarez, aged 33, has an impressive record of 60 victories including 39 before the limit, 2 draws and 2 defeats, is the dominant figure in his category and in the world of boxing. Having consolidated his WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF belts by defeating Caleb Plant in November 2021, Alvarez has since successfully defended his belts three times.
His next challenge will therefore be against Munguia, another undefeated 27-year-old Mexican boxer, who has a record of 43 victories, including 34 before the limit, in as many fights. The duel, which was confirmed by sports broadcasting platform DAZN, is already generating great interest in the boxing world, putting Alvarez's dominance at stake against a young and talented opponent.
Legend vs YouTuber
Netflix is launching into the world of boxing with a high-profile event pitting Jake Paul against Mike Tyson at the Dallas Cowboys stadium on July 20.
Paul, who gained notoriety from YouTube, challenged Tyson, who is 30 years his senior. The card, broadcast on Netflix, will be in partnership with Jake Paul's promotion company.
Iron Mike, after showing he is still in incredible physical shape during an exhibition fight in 2020, is now a cannabis entrepreneur and has often expressed interest in a fight against one of the brothers Paul. The event promises to attract attention, offering a unique blend of celebrities, sport and entertainment.
