As much as I wish that Anthony Joshua’s devastating second-round KO of Francis Ngannou would put an end to MMA fighters trying to fight pro boxers in boxing, I know it won’t. The money is just too big.
But after seeing how easily Ngannou hit the canvas three times on Friday, these boxing matches should end.
Joshua’s final haymaker definitively answered the question as to whether professional MMA fighters can compete against professional boxers in boxing.
And the answer is a definitive “Hell no.”
Many incorrectly think that the two sports are similar and fighters can easily move between the two. While there are more examples of pro boxers successfully crossing over into MMA i.e. Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano, the same is not true in the reverse.
That’s because striking and boxing, while sharing basic similarities, are two different skills and art forms.
Joshua’s destruction of Ngannou in less than five minutes through punches that pro boxers could see, block, or counter is proof of that.
This isn’t a knock on Ngannou or Joshua. AJ did what he traveled to do, and he made it look effortless. To be honest, he looked bored after Ngannou hit the canvas for the third and final time.
The biggest issue is that these fights have become boring and predictable.
Jake Paul’s bumrush of combat sports is proof of this.
While Paul has dominated the “influencer boxing” circuit, he’s fought four MMA fighters on the downside of their careers to fuel his rise. Watching those fights was akin to watching Apollo Creed in the ring with his sparring partners in Rocky II.
His latest fight will be against Mike Tyson in July, but we all know the reason for this fight.
Joshua’s quick and light work of Ngannou also poses a question about safety. While the latter was unhurt and joked at the postgame presser about being knocked out, there’s always a chance that an MMA fighter gets seriously hurt because they aren’t talented enough at boxing to compete with a pro boxer in the square ring.
And to the fans, why would you want to continue supporting, especially financially, crossover events that lack excitement and real boxing talent and skill?
Joshua’s first knockdown of Ngannou was thanks to a flush right cross. The second came when Ngannou walked into a right hook and the third arrived courtesy of a devastating right cross that Joshua actually had time to lock and load, step in and unleash.
The punches riled up the crowd, but real boxing fans know that Fury, Usyk or Wilder would have properly dealt with those punches and the fight would have continued.
I hope these crossover events end soon because they will eventually lead to someone getting injured.
Yet as long as these fights continue to swell fighter bank accounts, the crossovers will continue.
But they’ll also continue to not get my money.
