GRADES: ANTHONY JOSHUA, FRANCIS NGANNOU, REY VARGAS, NICK BALL, & MORE

By: Jay Calderon

We didn't have the busiest of weekends in terms of total fight cards, but the primary show certainly packed a punch.

In Saudi Arabia on Friday in the main event, former Heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua made easy work of former MMA Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. You also saw former world Heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker rise from two knockdowns to defeat the hard-hitting Zhilei Zhang.

On the under card, we also saw Featherweight titlist Rey Vargas settle for a very satisfying draw (not really) with challenger Nick Ball and Israel Madrimov stop previously-unbeaten Magomed Kurbanov to capture vacant gold at 154 pounds.

So, without much more ado, let's hand out these Grades:

ANTHONY JOSHUA

RESULT: DEF. FRANCIS NGANNOU, 2KO (HEAVYWEIGHT)

GRADE: A+

If we are just rating the performance of a former boxing world champion taking out a former MMA champion in a boxing contest, this might not be such a high rating. We effectively got the result we should have expected. However, context is important.

For the better parts of their careers, Joshua and world titlist Tyson Fury have been linked, they have had their wins and setbacks and anything in between closely compared. Perhaps up until the last few months, you would have to argue Fury has been getting the better of the comparisons.

That's not necessarily the case right now.

After Fury narrowly escaped with a questionable decision win over Ngannou back in October of last year, the opinions many had of Fury seemed to slip a bit. Meanwhile, in that time, Joshua has looked like a reborn man, stopping Otto Wallin and, now, Ngannou in dominant fashion.

With new trainer Ben Davison, Joshua seems more focused and determined to be the offensive threat he was in his earlier days. Less timid, more convinced that he can end matters when he steps forward and throws. This was on full display against the obviously-limited Ngannou.

Joshua will likely always be a hot and cold fighter, someone with all the physical gifts in the world, but a fighter that has his vulnerabilities. That said, he couldn't have looked better, and the circumstances couldn't have made the win mean anymore than they did on Friday night in Saudi Arabia.

FRANCIS NGANNOU

RESULT: LOSS TO ANTHONY JOSHUA, 2KO (HEAVYWEIGHT)

GRADE: D

What a difference a single fight can make.

Back in October of last year, former MMA world champion Francis Ngannou surprised many in the fight world with a much better-than-expected performance against Heavyweight titlist Tyson Fury. While he wasn't awarded the win in their close encounter, Ngannou won over many in the boxing community by keeping the fight close and looking miles better than most expected.

On Friday against Anthony Joshua, Ngannou looked every bit the novice boxer you'd expect him to be in only his second professional bout.

Ngannou, to his credit, actually managed to land a decent shot in the two frames (or so) the fight lasted. However, when they landed on a fighter in Joshua that came prepared, they didn't seem to have the same impact they had on Fury. Joshua stayed composed, stuck to the plan and fired back with the far more telling blows.

After his contest with Fury, during an interview, Ngannou stated that boxing punches felt different than the punches he was used to experiencing in MMA. That was never more evident by the fact that Joshua hurt Francis in a way dissimilar to anything he experienced in mixed martial arts -- where the gloves are significantly smaller.

Ngannou is a monster of a man, with a tremendous punch. If you put him in there with any Heavyweight, he always has that chance. Still, in most cases, he will look like the Ngannou demolished by AJ far more than the Francis that nearly upset Fury.

JOSEPH PARKER

RESULT: DEF. ZHILEI ZHANG, 12MD (HEAVYWEIGHT)

GRADE: A-

If you're looking for a redemption story in boxing that is solely based on what has happened in the ring, look no further than the story of Joseph Parker.

So often, we as boxing fans read about fighters hitting personal lows, and looking to the sport as a means of righting some of their recent wrongs. And in truth, I'm all in favor of someone using productivity to get back on track. However, in the case of Parker, the story is different.

As far as anyone can tell, Parker wasn't dealing with seemingly insurmountable odds in his personal life, struggles that would ultimately lead to setbacks in his professional life. No, Parker simple fought the best opponents he could face and fell short a few times.

Against Anthony Joshua back in 2018, Parker's Heavyweight title reign was ended, and Parker lost a close decision to another Brit in Dillian Whyte in his following fight. After a few build back fights, Parker was stopped for the (so far) only time as a professional in a bout with Joe Joyce back in September of 2022.

For the modern fighter, three losses at the top of the sport effectively means you're donezo. However, Parker opted to get even busier, racking up four wins in 2023 alone, including a year-ending, career best performance against former titlist Deontay Wilder. Parker dominated the favored Wilder in one of the biggest upsets of the year.

And while it may not have been as big an upset against Zhilei Zhang, the underdog Parker again proved that a couple of losses in the sport don't define you. If you stick to it, continue to stay active and get better, boxing doesn't have to be one and done in terms of how it handles losses.

Truthfully, Parker has had a better career since losing the title than he did prior to or during his reign. And that's because he simply continued to improve and fight the best. Which was evident on the night agianst Zhang, where Parker moved and boxed well, even rising from the canvas to do so.

Another very solid win for the former world titlist, who now could be on the verge of challenging for gold once more.

ZHILEI ZHANG

RESULT: LOSS TO JOSEPH PARKER, 12MD (HEAVYWEIGHT)

GRADE: D-

After watching Zhilei Zhang in against Joseph Parker, you couldn't blame someone for believeing the Chinese fighting man was contractually allowed only 20 punches (or so) per round. Whether in writing or not, Zhang seemed to be sticking to that agreement.

When Zhang managed to throw and land with any kind of authority, he would seem to have Parker in trouble. Twice, Zhang decked Parker and seemed to have him in trouble at least three additional instances. He simply followed up that success with absolutely nothing.

Here's a fun way to look at this fight mathematically: If we assume Zhang stunned/hurt Parker with a single punch 3 times, and dropped him twice, that means 5 shots had Joseph in trouble. Zhang only landed a total of 40 power shots. That means Zhang hurt or dropped Parker with over 12 percent of the power punches he landed. Check those kinds of numbers in other 12 round fights, I promise you that's very high.

You know the only problem with that? Zhang seemingly refused to throw enough punches for those numbers to mean anything. When his own corner was demanding more activity from him down the stretch, Zhilei seemed content to...do nothing instead. It was a very frustrating watch when you consider the success Zhang had when he managed any sort of effort.

At 40 years of age, perhaps that's all Zhang could put forth in a fight. Stamina just isn't there, cant' sustain an attack against someone with even a bit of defense. Or, he simply is too passive and let's a lot of chances slip away. In either case, that doesn't bode well for his chances in the division.

REY VARGAS

RESULT: FOUGHT NICK BALL, 12SDRAW (FEATHERWEIGHT)

GRADE: C

If Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball was a six round fight, the former would have received a near perfect grade here.

For the first half of the fight, Vargas was masterful, nearly perfect and hardly being touched. The length and movement of Vargas kept Ball at bay and really gave him little chance of getting into the action. The jab of Vargas alone was controlling the contest.

However, any time Ball managed to find a way inside, even if for a moment, Vargas wasn't at his most comfortable. Early on, it wasn't doing much in terms of the scorecards, but Vargas was really attempting to make the most of any inside work Ball looked to implement.

The fight turned at about the halfway point, however, and Vargas was suddenly doing more complaining than superb boxing. Ball was closing distance, and was simply throwing Vargas to the floor when the Mexican attempted a tie up. Mostly, the falling over tactics by Vargas stopped the action, but it also may have lead to a questionable knockdown being scored by Ball in the eighth frame.

In the eleventh, Ball was again credited with a knockdown (this one more credible). And Vargas, mostly, chose to complain in response for the rest of the frame.

In the final round, Vargas, perhaps sensing the tight nature of the encounter, put forth a solid effort. However, one gets the sense he could have made that unnecessary if he had simply done more fighting than bitching in those middle frames.

Still, Vargas did just enough to retain his 126 pound gold on Friday night.

NICK BALL

RESULT: FOUGHT REY VARGAS, 12SDRAW (FEATHERWEIGHT)

GRADE: C

It must be said that Nick Ball impressed me by willing himself into his championship bout with Featherweight titlist Rey Vargas.

After a very slow start, Ball opted to just step in and start throwing. Knowing he wasn't going to win a moxing match on the outside against a man with a massive reach advantage, Ball tucked his chin and got to work.

While Vargas elected to complain and steal rounds with flurries here and there down the stretch, Ball was putting together much better overall work and had his man hurt more than a few times in those latter frames.

The issue for Ball is simple: Why did he think that boxing from the outside was the right idea in those beginning frames? Early on, Ball would look to dart in with a single shot, but mostly looked like he was conceding that Vargas was controlling the real estate.

Once Ball switched his approach and started attacking the body, moving forward and throwing, Ball had success. Yes, Vargas was fresher in the beginning. However, that should be expected. Ball still needed to get to work.

If Ball had won even a couple of those early stanzas, he's likely world champion today. For now, he has to hope a title bout materializes.

ISRAEL MADRIMOV

RESULT: DEF. MAGOMED KURBANOV, 5TKO (JR. MIDDLEWEIGHT)

GRADE: A

Well, 154 pounds just got a whole lot more interesting with Israel Madrimov's impressive win over Magomed Kurbanov.

The pair of unbeatens faced off at Jr. Middleweight with a vacant piece of gold on the line, and many expected it could be evenly contested. While Madrinov was a sizable favorite, Kurbanov is no slouch and, one would have thought, could have put forth a decent performance. However, Madrinov had other ideas.

From the very beginning, Madrinov seemed a step (or two) ahead, utilizing slick footwork and positioning to corner his foe and set up his power shots. While the blows of Madrinov seemed heavy, they weren't slow. Quite the opposite. Madrinov used a rare combination of power and speed that still seemed controlled and well placed.

The confidence with which Madrinov moved was probably most impressive. He was mostly defensively responsible, while still coming forward and landing significant shots that ultimately made Kurbanov wilt in the corner in the fifth frame.

Suddenly, with the titles of Jermell Charlo becoming vacant, 154 pounds is becoming much more lively.

LINKS:

- SCHEDULE & ODDS

- RESULTS

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