“FRANCIS NGANNOU will overcome Anthony Joshua!” That’s the view of Dewey Cooper, a two-time world champion with over 32 years of experience in boxing, who is currently training Ngannou ahead of the former UFC Heavyweight champion’s huge showdown with Joshua in Saudi Arabia on March 8.

Dewey told The Voice: “Anthony Joshua, an Olympic gold medallist, a two-time world champion and one of the best heavyweights in the world as we speak. Guess what? Francis Ngannou, the ‘MMA fighter’ as people keep calling him, is going to defeat Joshua on March 8.

“Francis is working hard, and he will be ready. He will be an improved version of the fighter who took on Tyson Fury.”

Ngannou was beaten by boxing legend and reigning WBC heavyweight champion Fury in his professional debut in the sport, edged out on a split decision after the two went to war in a fight which was billed as Battle of the Baddest last October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“All the chips were stacked against him in the Fury fight. Fury is in his prime, he’s younger than Francis. He only had 11 months away from the ring, we had over two years off. Francis was coming into the fight off the back of surgery, and he still did what he did in his debut against Fury. Against Joshua, he’s going to be more improved, that I can assure you.”

As well as training Francis, Dewey is also the president of Team Combat League, the first combat pro sports league featuring both male and female fighters. He said of the new initiative: “I am honoured to be the president of Team Combat League. We had a tremendous debut season.

“Team Combat League features 24-member teams from different states in the US, consisting of men and women fighting one round each. You have three minutes to impose your will and show your skill against your opponent, its action personified, its adrenaline filled, and it’s really exciting.

“You can’t get a boring fight in our company because of the structure. There’s no fighters avoiding each other. Atlanta’s best will fight against Boston’s best, Los Angeles’ best is going to fight Houston’s best.

“I love the camaraderie of sport. There’s nothing like being held accountable in a team. If you lose, the team loses. Sometimes you see boxers that fight, they get a few losses, and they just start fighting for the money or for the business.

“They don’t care if they win or lose anymore. However, if you’re part of a team, there is a lot more riding on it. It’s not just you giving up on yourself, you’re giving up on the 23 other people in your team.

“A lot of high level fighters are joining Team Combat League because they make weekly money, they’re staying busy, and it’s only one round.”

“Our whole goal and objective was to create a boxing promotion to really appeal to the social climate today, which means instant action, no politics, everyone gets taken care of and the fighters get paid the best price.

“Team Combat League is growing exponentially, we will be a global company. The next season starts on March 28^, and you won’t want to miss it!”