Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou isn’t feeling too many different vibes going into his second pro boxing match.
Ngannou will meet Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “The Predator” is hoping to capitalize off his momentum from a shocking performance in a losing effort to Tyson Fury in late 2023, which almost saw Ngannou pull off a monumental upset. Going into his sophomore boxing match, Ngannou isn’t feeling anything too far off from how he felt going into the Fury matchup.
For “The Predator” it’s a matter of staying focused on what he can control.
Francis Ngannou Not Worried About Doubters, Feels The Same Ahead Of Joshua Fight
During an interview for Queensberry Promotions, Francis Ngannou said that there will be doubters for every fighter, even his opponent.
“People will always say something, it doesn’t matter what you do,” Ngannou said. “And guess what? They’ll say something even about him. Whoever is your opponent, they will say something about him too. They are saying something about AJ as well. People will always say something, and that’s what happens when you get into that position. You just have to be ready for people to talk and just know what you’re doing, just focus on yourself.”
Ngannou was then asked if he felt that Tyson Fury didn’t prepare adequately for their 10-round boxing clash last year. “The Predator’s” response was blunt, but very few can argue with him.
“That’s his problem,” Ngannou said. “I don’t know, I wasn’t there, I can’t tell but that’s his problem. I also think people, sometimes even the objective opinion can be wrong because you also have to understand that it’s hard to fight somebody that you don’t know exactly what to expect. I think that was also something that was basically in my favor. I think now I get exposed from that fight and people will come to me having an idea of what they’re going to deal with, and be very serious than before.”
Ngannou looked back at the counter punch on Fury. He claimed that in the third round, Fury had a look in his eyes that signaled his desire to end the fight. “The Predator” said in that moment he decided he wasn’t going to back down. After the knockdown, Ngannou said “The Gypsy King” then realized he was in for a real fight.
The former UFC heavyweight king was then asked why he seemed to be chomping at the bit during AJ vs. Otto Wallin and Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker back in December.
“There was a lot of fights on that card that I was licking my lips on,” Ngannou said. “Deontay Wilder is also a guy that I’ve been having my eyes on, and not that I judge him based on that night, but I watched the whole event and I’m like, ‘I fit in this.'”
As far as the difference between how he felt ahead of the Fury fight to how the vibes are now, Ngannou said it’s nonexistent.
“It’s still the same,” Ngannou said. “We are not going there talking about skills or experience or anything to compare that. We are so far from each other in that sense, but the only thing that I count on is my determination.”
Ngannou shared his belief that Otto Wallin lost the fight against Anthony Joshua before the bell even rang. “The Predator” said he isn’t going into the ring giving AJ too much respect. He believes that mentally Wallin “wasn’t there.”
Here’s Queensberry Promotions’ full video interview with Francis Ngannou:
