Frank Warren reveals what Tyson Fury did ringside as Anthony Joshua KO'd Francis Ngannou

10/03/2024 15:10

Frank Warren claims Tyson Fury was ‘cheering on’ Anthony Joshua during his recent outing against Francis Ngannou.

‘The Gypsy King’ was in attendance on Friday night for Joshua’s two-round demolition job at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Only five months prior, Ngannou had caused Fury all kinds of problems in the same venue.

But there were no such issues when Joshua duked it out with the Cameroonian MMA star as he dropped his adversary twice before sending him down and out with a vicious right hand.

Fury had a front-row view of the knockout and, according to Warren, he was dazzled by the showing.

“He was very impressed,” Warren told talkSPORT Fight Night with John Rawling on Saturday.

“As you say, I was next to him there and he was cheering him on.

“We were both cheering him on as we wanted him to come through and needless to say he came through in style.”

Despite Joshua’s impressive display against Ngannou, Warren isn’t getting carried away and insists Fury is still the best heavyweight on the planet.

“AJ he’s got a new trainer in Ben Davison and he’s obviously getting the best out of him,” he added.

“He’s had two fights in Saudi Arabia that have got him back into the public eye. The first is against Otto Wallin and the other against Francis Ngannou – and he did what he had to do.

“But for me, Tyson is the number one heavyweight. He’s the lineal champion and he’s done it at the highest level.

“And, as I said, on May 18 we’re going to find out who the best heavyweight is when he faces the guy who beat AJ twice (Usyk).”

Joshua is now in a primed position to face the winner of the undisputed clash between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in the spring.

However, he is unlikely to receive his shot until next year with the heavyweight titans tied into a two-fight agreement.

Provided Joshua and Fury do end up facing each other then Warren expects it to happen in Saudi Arabia rather than England.

“Whether it takes place in Wembley or the UK I don’t know because at the moment it’s only because of His Excellency and Riyadh Season that most of these fights are happening,” Warren continued.