Francis Ngannou only has one professional boxing match under his belt, but the former UFC heavyweight champion is already considered an elite talent in the squared circle.
Ngannou is preparing for his upcoming fight against former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, which takes place Friday in Saudi Arabia and will be shown live worldwide on DAZN PPV.
It's the second time the Cameroonian will step into the ring against one of boxing's biggest names, as he made his pro debut last year against Tyson Fury and took the current WBC champion the distance in an impressive outing that saw Ngannou earn a No. 10 ranking from the WBC following the bout.
Ngannou looks to continue his rise in the boxing world with a victory against "AJ" on Friday, but a former heavyweight title challenger and current sparring partner of the MMA star says the 37-year-old has already successfully transitioned from the top of the MMA world to the top of the boxing world.
“It's going to be difficult for AJ to get to Francis," Carlos Takam told Lucky Block. "When we spar now, it's different to when he was an MMA fighter. It’s a big difference, he’s no longer an MMA fighter, he's a world class boxer.
"I don't know why people call him an MMA fighter who is trying to box, Francis is a boxer, a world class boxer. People forget that before Francis got into MMA he was a boxer in Africa, Francis was selected for the Olympic setup in Cameroon.
"He was selected for the national team. He didn't go to the Olympics but he was in the national team. He was a good amateur boxer.
"When he arrived in Europe he was a boxer. He has a seriously good pedigree.”
Live on DAZN PPV: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou on March 8. Click here for details and how to purchase.