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| AP Photo |
It was one of the most striking sights in boxing for some time, Francis Ngannou dancing a jig of delight while leaning over a floored and clearly dazed Tyson Fury.
For boxing purists, a disaster was unfolding.
Was a UFC fighter, in his first ever boxing bout, really about to knock out a reigning world heavyweight champion?
Fury got up and wound up eking out a heavily debated and unconvincing split-decision victory but Ngannou had made a dramatic entry into the world of boxing.
On Friday, the French-Cameroonian gets another chance to upset the established order — and potentially set himself up for another shot at Fury.
Ngannou is back in Saudi Arabia for the second fight of his crossover career, this time against another Brit in former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Much of the pre-fight narrative is presuming a win for Joshua that would put him in line to fight Fury, provided Fury — the WBC champion — beats Oleksandr Usyk — the WBA, IBF and WBO champion — in their rearranged May 18 bout that will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000.
