Francis Ngannou has been backed to cause a huge upset and beat Anthony Joshua when the pair battle it out in Riyadh on March 8.
Former UFC fighter Dan Hardy is convinced that Ngannou will have too much for the Brit and has outlined three reasons why.
Joshua has won three fights since last April as he attempts to get his heavyweight boxing career back on track following two defeats against Oleksandr Usyk.
The 34-year-old is eyeing the winner of Usyk's fight with Tyson Fury, with the pair's postponed fight set to take place on May 18.
Francis Ngannou has been backed to beat Anthony Joshua on March 8
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But Joshua knows his plans could all go up in smoke if he loses to Ngannou, in what would be his fourth professional defeat.
Former MMA star Ngannou has had just one pro boxing fight, almost pulling off a major shock against Tyson Fury last October.
Hardy reckons the Cameroon-born star will find it easier to hit Joshua than he did Fury, as well as find it simpler to trouble him 'psychologically'.
He also reckons the 'unknown' of Ngannou will be another factor in him beating Joshua.
Hardy told Sky Sports: "I'm going with Ngannou genuinely. I picked Fury in the last one.
"I felt Fury was going to be able to catch him fifth or sixth round once he started to get tired. But this for me is a much better match-up for Ngannou.
"I feel like AJ's easier to hit, easier to rattle psychologically and I feel like because of the unknown commodity of Francis Ngannou there's going to be a shock to the system."
Ngannou is confident that he will beat Joshua and claim his first professional boxing win.
But Hardy says there must be respect from each fighter as they are both capable of causing each other problems in the ring.
He added: "There's an unquantifiable power about Ngannou and that's concerning because he can punch through a decent guard.
"I feel like AJ's going to feel punches coming through his guard and they're going to surprise him a little bit.
"Because Ngannou will let them go and try and really hurt him. But they've both got to respect one another's power.
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"If Ngannou gets tired, he gets over-extended, he leaves himself open, AJ's going to pick him apart and it could look like a very easy night for him.
"AJ knows how to land and deliver a punch. He's very precise. He's very powerful as we know.
"We don't have the surprise factor from Ngannou now but now he's also got the confidence that he can do 10 rounds.
"He has to give Ngannou the respect; that he's improved since the last fight and of course with the confidence that he can do 10 rounds."
Tyson Fury was caused problems by Francis Ngannou in his first professional fight
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Hardy says Ngannou will change his approach slightly from his loss to Fury, adding: "I expect to see a busier Francis Ngannou. I don't know whether that's a good thing necessarily because the busier he is, the easier he is to hit.
"Of course, AJ is a supremely talented boxer. Very skilled. Good basics. Good fundamentals. So on paper he should be able to pick Ngannou off and wear him down, keep him at a distance and not over-extend himself.
"But that's also what Tyson should have done as well and it's easier said than done.
"I do wonder whether the confidence of Ngannou is going to make AJ's life a bit easier. But at the same time that confidence can undermine AJ's confidence as well, especially if he has a rough round or two."
