Francis Ngannou, two-sport world champion? It’s attainable.
When Ngannou stepped into the ring with heavyweight nice Tyson Fury this previous October, he entered the boxing world as a UFC champion who by no means misplaced his title within the cage. He didn’t defeat Fury, however he earned loads of respect with an exhilarating third-round knockdown and a razor-close break up determination loss that many felt ought to have been a win.
Now, the PFL fighter is ready to face one other high boxer in Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At a current press convention for the occasion, Ngannou made it clear that he isn’t letting any success or reward go to his head.
“I’ve been sitting right here listening to individuals speaking and even [Matchroom Boxing Chairman] Eddie [Hearn] praising me, which I recognize that,” Ngannou stated. “On the identical time, I’m unsure he’s trustworthy, or if simply desires to get me [sleeping on] his man, which, that’s not going to occur. I’m only a newbie out right here that’s going to coach actually exhausting and do every part and are available because the underdog to win the battle. I don’t take my final battle as a reference. I feel that I get this achieved, I feel that I get every part, I do know precisely the place I’m at. I’m only a newbie, and I’m undoubtedly going to come back out higher, get higher and higher, in order that’s how I see issues. I’m getting ready for a tough battle.
“Sure, the Tyson Fury battle was nice, it was superior, however that’s now prior to now, and I’ve a brand new problem in entrance of me after I take it much more critical now than earlier than, as a result of now, I feel there’s something extra on the road, which might be the undisputed Francis Ngannou expects to ‘do one thing that no person has achieved earlier than’ in pursuing boxing championship.
“Let’s see, perhaps I’ll do one thing that no person has achieved earlier than, and I actually consider that I’ve the instruments to try this. Beginning off having a win towards A.J. on March 8 in Riyadh, which goes to be a giant battle. Not a simple one, however a attainable one, and I’m going to take that.”
Although nothing is official, each Ngannou and Joshua have spoken publicly in regards to the winner of their conflict probably occurring to compete for undisputed heavyweight champion standing. That seemingly means a battle with both Oleksandr Usyk or Fury, who’re set to battle on Feb. 17 with their respective titles on the road.
Because the proprietor of 10 UFC knockout victories, Ngannou was requested if he expects to check the standard of Joshua’s chin. Joshua has misplaced simply 3 times in 30 boxing matches, with a kind of losses coming by the use of TKO.
“I’m going to battle him, so what do you assume I’m going to do?” Ngannou stated. “It’s to search for his chin. That’s what occurs within the battle. Within the battle, you’re making an attempt to hit anyone within the chin or wherever you’ll be able to hit him, and sure I heard that he doesn’t have a chin. I don’t know if it’s true or not, I hope I’ve the chance to check that out. That’s my want. That’s what I’m wishing for.”
