Newly signed UFC Welterweight, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, believes that a return to the ‘old school’ mentality for Anthony Joshua will prove too dangerous for opponent Francis Ngannou on March 8.
MVP revealed to IFL TV that he initially had concerns over AJ’s mentality after back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk, losing his IBF, IBO, WBO, WBA heavyweight titles in the process.
However, following Joshua’s five-round demolition job over Otto Wallin to close out 2023, Page now believes the 2012 Olympic gold medallist is back to his best.
“Joshua seems to have the fire back in him,” Page said. “I was worried about his mentality and where his head was at for a few different reasons but he seems to have gathered himself.
“He looks the part again. He is back on his old school Joshua which is what everybody wants to see.”
MVP was equally wary to write off Ngannou’s chances of capturing a shock victory over AJ, though, claiming the Cameroonian’s “power is dangerous for anybody” and will pose an issue for Joshua when the pair meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
Ngannou, a former UFC Heavyweight champion, sent shockwaves throughout the boxing world when he dropped WBC Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to the canvas during their ‘Battle of the Baddest’ bout in October 2023.
Although The Gypsy King would save his blushes by eventually capturing a decision victory on the scorecards, Ngannou’s impressive debut performance underlined his credentials to tussle with the boxing elites.
Joshua and Ngannou’s ten-round contest is to take place under the Kingdom Arena lights in Riyadh, the same location that both men last fought.
The Heavyweight duel is set to kickstart a bumper sporting weekend for Saudi Arabia, with the fight planned for Friday before the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
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