Molly McCann believes Anthony Joshua could come unstuck against Francis Ngannou in their showdown in Saudi Arabia on Friday night if the former UFC champion utilises his power against the British fighter.

The pair are set to meet in a huge clash in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Cameroonian-French MMA fighter coming into the bout after startling WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October.

Ngannou is widely regarded as one of the hardest hitters in the world, with UFC president Dana White previously describing one of his punches as ‘being equal to getting hit by a Ford Escort going at full speed.’

And McCann, who recently claimed victory against Diana Belbita, delivered a warning to Joshua ahead of the fight, lauding Ngannou for his work to improve as a boxer.

‘I think, a punch has always got a chance… I really didn’t think he was going to do as well as what he did against Tyson Fury, McCann told Sky Sports News.

Francis Ngannou will take on Anthony Joshua on Friday night in what is gearing up to be a massive showdown

Molly McCann believes Ngannou possesses Joshua’s ‘kryptonite’ and lauds the Cameroonian after he ‘stunned the world against Tyson Fury’

‘I think he shocked the world with that. He gained their respect. And I think the world, kind of, fell in love with him.

READ MORE: JEFF POWELL: Anthony Joshua can dodge and dance his way through Saudi clash against Francis Ngannou to keep his Tyson Fury dream alive

‘He’s put his down. He’s carried on working on his craft,’ she added.

In his first professional boxing fight the 37-year old knocked the ‘Gypsy King’ to the canvas in the third round, before Fury went on to claim a split decision victory – with some fans claiming that Ngannou was ‘robbed’.

Joshua, meanwhile, claimed a comfortable victory against otto Wallin in December at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ but will want to use his experience against Ngannou to secure victory tonight, to give himself a shot at Fury next.

The 34-year-old stands to earn approximately £39million before he steps into the ring vs Ngannou, but faces a difficult opponent, with McCann revealing Ngannou could possess the British fighter’s kryptonite.

‘AJ’s kryptonite could be what Francis has got a lot of in his locker.

‘It would be good to see if AJ is good enough to out box him, be smart and not stay there to get hit.

‘Francis has got to sit down on his punches a little bit more and let them go a bit more than in his last fight – where he was a little bit tentative, because it was his first professional boxing bout.

‘Whereas now, he knows the score.’

McCann added that ‘it would be good to see if AJ is good enough to out box him, be smart and not stay there to get hit’

The pair squared off at the weigh-in on Thursday afternoon ahead of their bout at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh

Ngannou comes into this fight off the back of a loss against Fury (right), despite knocking the WBC heavyweight chamion to the floor in the third round of that meeting

Joshua is not underestimating his opponent, despite his comparative wealth of boxing experience.

The British fighter promised an ‘all out war’ against the former UFC star, who has also been embroiled in a war of words with his former opponent Fury during the build up to this fight.

‘All will be revealed, straight up war, relentlessness and a good fight. That’s what everyone’s here for – a good fight,’ he said when asked about his preparation to the fight.

‘We’re not looking past this fight,’ he said when asked about a potential plan to fight the Gypsy King should he claim victory against Ngannou.

‘The incentives and stuff, it’s just to win, to focus on my game plan and focus on what I’ve got to do.

‘It was always his [Francis] dream to be a boxer, he was part of the Cameroonian team and only started MMA when he was 26.

‘He’s been doing it from a young age, I know what I’m up against.

Ngannou possesses one of the most powerful punches in the world, which has been likened to being hit by a Ford Escort

Joshua, meanwhile, could set up a bout against Fury should he defeat Ngannou on Friday

‘I spar, I do my film studying and keep it professional. But on the night, that textbook goes out the window, you’ve got to be relentless.

‘This [entertaining] is what I’ve devoted my life to so bring every challenge, every competition and I’ll step up to the plate. One day I’ll share the ring with Tyson – I’m serious about the game.

‘The best man will always win, it’s not rocket science. One of the main things I’m looking forward to is showing how good I am. People find out when they’re in the ring, but we’ll see. Friday will soon come, I’m looking forward to it and the occasion.’