Francis Ngannou lifts lid on what 'surprised' him the most about 'special' Anthony Joshua during crossover clash
09/03/2024 15:01
Francis Ngannou couldn’t believe how good Anthony Joshua’s timing was.
The Watford powerhouse made quick work of Ngannou on Friday night as he knocked the Cameroonian cage fighter out cold inside two rounds in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou had previously caused Tyson Fury all kinds of problems when they squared off last October in Ngannou’s first outing in a boxing ring.
But there were no such issues for Joshua when he duked it out with the MMA star.
AJ looked in complete control throughout the fight as he repeatedly tagged his adversary with a crisp right hand.
Joshua found success in luring Ngannou in with hard and soft feints before timing his trademark shot over the top while the former UFC heavyweight champion advanced.
The result was one of the most devastating knockouts you’ll see this year. Ngannou didn’t know what had hit him.
“[Joshua] was quite special because he stopped me,” said Ngannou. “He did what Tyson couldn’t do.
“In fact, I didn’t feel the punch. I think that’s what a knockout is about. I don’t feel any pain. That’s how I know I was knocked out.”
Asked what impressed him the most about Joshua, Ngannou replied: “I think he got the right timing. It was about the timing, mostly.”
Despite losing both of his professional boxing bouts to Fury and Joshua, Ngannou insists he isn’t going anywhere.
“You can be sure I’m not done here,” Ngannou added. “It wasn’t my day.
“He was way better than me today. It sucks but it’s the game. We all know that.”
But before he returns to the squared circle he will have to fulfil his commitments in MMA.
Ngannou is set to face Renan Ferreira at some point this year in the PFL after the Brazilian giant stopped Ryan Bader last month to set up the blockbuster showdown.
Ferreira is 13-3 in pro MMA and won the recent 2023 PFL Heavyweight Tournament.
Ngannou hasn’t competed in the sport since beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 back in January 2022.
