Dillian Whyte has offered his perspective on Anthony Joshua’s recent victory over Francis Ngannou, characterizing the Cameroonian fighter as being at a relatively low skill level. Joshua secured a knockout win over Ngannou in just two rounds, a stark contrast to Ngannou’s previous bout against Tyson Fury, which ended in a split-decision loss five months prior.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Whyte expressed more disappointment in Ngannou’s performance than admiration for Joshua’s achievement. He suggested that Ngannou’s confidence may have been inflated by his previous fight with Fury, leading him to remain stationary and vulnerable to Joshua’s powerful punches.
Whyte highlighted Ngannou’s failure to employ defensive tactics such as head movement or clinching, instead opting to remain stationary and absorb punishment. He also criticized Ngannou’s decision to switch stances mid-fight, which he deemed ineffective against a skilled puncher like Joshua.
While acknowledging Ngannou’s transition to boxing, Whyte pointed out that Ngannou’s training may not have adequately covered the fundamentals of the sport. He likened Ngannou’s level of boxing skill to that of a regional-level fighter, suggesting that even fighters at the “Southern Area” level could potentially defeat him.
Despite his commentary on the Joshua-Ngannou matchup, Whyte himself has faced setbacks, including a positive drug test that derailed a proposed rematch with Joshua in August. However, he is poised to return to the ring this Sunday for a bout against Christian Hammer in Ireland.
