Antonio Tarver: ‘Francis Ngannou a once-in-a-lifetime athlete’

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American former champion Antonio Tarver said some sweet things about Cameroonian new heavyweight boxer Francis Ngannou lately, adding that the athlete was the kind seen only once in a lifetime.

Ngannou caused a ripple of trans-generational surprise last year when he fought Tyson Fury as a debutant. The fight nearly ended in Ngannou’s favour when his left hook sent Fury slamming on the floor, but a controversial split decision stopped him cold.

Several heavyweights wanted to have a match with Ngannou later. Among them was Anthony Joshua with whom he signed a fight contract this year. This is going to be Ngannou’s second pro bout, and some expect Joshua to beat the new guy before the sixth round.

However, before the match, Tyson Fury and Oleksander Usyk will faceoff on February 8 to produce an undisputed world heavyweight champion. Whoever wins between Joshua and Ngannou gets to fight the winner of Fury versus Usyk.

In answer to whether Ngannou should get such a privilege, Tarver replied as follows:

‘That’s really why Ngannou is in the ring anyway, why he was in with Tyson Fury and why he’s facing AJ. He’s a phenomenon man, something we haven’t seen in boxing forever.

‘He could be 1 and 1 or 0 and 2 and be the richest 0 and 2 fighter in the sport. Like what the hell was I doing for the 23 years I was boxing? I got to take my hat off to him, and an athlete like that only comes across once in a lifetime.’

Tarver also said that both fights are important.

‘That Tyson Fury and [Oleksandr] Usyk fight is one for the ages but also important is the AJ and Ngannou fight. That fight got me a little nervous considering Ngannou’s natural power.

‘AJ doesn’t really take punches well, we know that, so this fight makes me concerned, when you look at AJ has everything to lose and Ngannou has everything to win, it’s really tough going into a fight like that.’

If Ngannou beats Joshua, it will surely be the upset of the century.