Francis Ngannou makes bold statement ahead of Joshua bout

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will square off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in what will be Ngannou’s second-ever professional boxing bout.

Cameroon-born Ngannou made his professional boxing debut in October, when he knocked down WBC champion Tyson Fury from England before losing a close decision.

The winner of Joshua vs Ngannou is then expected to take on the winner of Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (postponed to 18 May) to take the mantle of being the undisputed heavyweight champion.

FRANCIS NGANNOU CERTAIN HE HAD WON FIGHT AGAINST FURY

Ahead of Friday’s bout, the ex-mixed martial arts fighter told BBC Sport that he felt he had had a good fight against Fury and was surprised by his split decision points defeat.

“The information that I had from my corner, that was the first information that I had about me winning the fight,” Ngannou said.

“After that I started processing what happened in the fight and was certain that I won the fight.”

“So after that I was like, those judges will never judge my fights again otherwise we’re calling out that fight. In fact it doesn’t matter what happened that night, people recognise that I did a good job.”

THE ‘UNDERGROUND KING’

On Friday Ngannou will be up against a seasoned boxer looking to return to the top of the heavyweight division. Joshua won all three of his fights in 2023, including a fifth-round stoppage of Otto Wallin in December.

Asked if he thought he could defeat Joshua, Ngannou said he is confident he can find a way.

“I’m Francis Ngannou! he said laughing. “I’m the Underground King. One thing I’m good at – I might not be a champion in boxing, but I’m a life champion.”

“I’m pretty good at finding my way, doing my thing. It always works out for me.”

“We are in the heavyweight division, and everybody here can knock everybody out. But if I land a straight, clean shot, he’s not taking it,” Ngannou added.