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Amir Khan has thrown his support behind former UFC world heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, predicting that Ngannou may fare better against Anthony Joshua than he did against Tyson Fury.
Ngannou, making his professional boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Fury on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, narrowly lost to Fury in a controversial split decision. However, Ngannou stunned the boxing world by knocking down Fury heavily with a long straight right hand, nearly causing a major upset in the sport.
Following his performance against Fury, Ngannou received a top 10 rating by the WBC. Joshua, who has been rebuilding after consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, is set to face Ngannou on March 8 in Saudi Arabia. The winner of this contest will be in a prime position to face the winner of the undisputed heavyweight title fight between Usyk and Tyson Fury on May 18.
In an interview with the YouTube platform All Out Fighting, Khan supported his countryman to defeat Ngannou, but he believes Ngannou might find Joshua an easier target than Fury. Khan praised Joshua as a smart fighter but emphasized Ngannou's confidence and belief that he can knock out Joshua.
Khan stressed the unpredictability of the heavyweight division, where one punch can change the outcome of a fight. While acknowledging Joshua as a great fighter, Khan suggested that Joshua might be easier to hit than Fury, who is known for his defensive skills.
However, Khan encouraged Joshua to restore boxing's reputation following Ngannou's performance against Fury, stating that the public perception towards boxing took a hit after their fight. Khan believes Joshua has the opportunity to demonstrate that boxers are not weaker but better and stronger than MMA fighters.