Anthony Joshua’s former sparring partner sensationally backs ex-UFC champ Francis Ngannou to stop British star

FRANCIS NGANNOU has sensationally been backed by one of Anthony Joshua’s former sparring partners to win their fight.

Ngannou takes to the boxing ring for only the second time in March to face two-time heavyweight champion AJ.

Francis Ngannou fights Anthony Joshua in March

Joshua and former sparring partner Martin Bakole

It comes after he floored Tyson Fury in October only to lose a controversial decision.

And Martin Bakole – who sparred with Fury before the fight after years of gym rounds with Joshua – fancies Ngannou’s chances.

Bakole, 30, told iFL TV: “He [Fury] took Ngannou easy, not too serious.

“He thought he would stop him by round five but Ngannou took it serious and thought that if he stops Tyson Fury he will make a name for himself in boxing.

“To be honest, Joshua is going to be different because Joshua saw Ngannou was coming to box as well, he will take it serious.

“Ngannou as well is coming into it, wanting to make a name for himself in boxing, everyone is surprised after the Tyson Fury fight.

“He is a good man, he has got a good heart and he’s got everything up there, if he lands on Joshua, I think that he will stop him because this time he is taking it seriously as well and he will be working hard.”

Fury, 35, picked himself up from the canvas and a split-decision saw him keep his unification with Oleksandr Usyk, 36, alive on February 17.

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But Ngannou, 37, was left in the lurch and forced to wait out for a rematch.

That was until Deontay Wilder, 38, suffered a shock defeat to Joseph Parker, 31, to blow his super-fight with AJ.

So Joshua, 34, having beaten Otto Wallin, 32, on the same night, turned his attention to Ngannou.

And a deal was quickly delivered and set to fall on March 8 in Riyadh.