Fedor Emelianenko has explained why he would welcome a boxing match against Francis Ngannou. He also identified the alleged technical weaknesses he could potentially exploit against the former UFC heavyweight champion.
The Russian MMA legend clarified that his comments about facing Ngannou were not an indication that negotiations were underway. However, he admitted that boxing the Cameroonian powerhouse would be a dream matchup for him.
Emelianenko ruled out an MMA contest because of his injuries but said he would be willing to trade punches under boxing rules. He also explained how he believes he could deal with Ngannou’s physical advantages.
In a recent interview with Ushatayka, he said:
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“I was simply asked during a chat with the youth. There was a question like, ‘Do you have a dream fight, someone you’d like to face? Under any rules?’ I said, ‘Well, if we’re talking about an absolute dream, I’d be interested in fighting Francis Ngannou.’ Under boxing rules, mind you. I wouldn’t pull off MMA because of all my injuries, but in boxing, I’d trade blows with him. But that was just thinking out loud, you know? Nothing more. I never declared that I’m conducting negotiations or anything like that. Big, strong, fast. He left as champion, and in boxing, he shined. He put up a pretty good fight against Tyson Fury.” [Translated from Russian]
He added:
“To strike, you need to close the distance. And closing the distance, I think I can do that. That’s what I see and know… That’s why this fight interests me. I see the flaws in Ngannou’s technique. His footwork isn’t quite there, his movement on the inside. Fast hands, but he doesn’t work that way when closing in. He has a good sense of distance, but it’s kind of repetitive work, something you can read and calculate.”
Check out Fedor Emelianenko‘s comments below:
Fedor Emelianenko believes his hand speed remains sharp despite age
Fedor Emelianenko believes his hand speed remains competitive despite being past his physical prime. Asked whether he has lost ground to Ciryl Gane in that department, the Russian heavyweight legend expressed confidence in his remaining quickness.
Emelianenko acknowledged that his speed may not match what he possessed in his twenties, but insisted it has not disappeared:
“I don’t know. I think not yet. Thank God, I don’t know, my speed is still there. Maybe it’s not what it used to be when I was, I don’t know, 26 or 30 years old. Although, for now, my hand speed is still there. My hand speed is holding up.”
Edited by Abhishek Nambiar
