- Ngannou lost a razor-thin decision to Fury in Saudi Arabia in October
- Ex-UFC heavyweight champion prepares to face Anthony Joshua in March
- He’s ready! We now see a new and confident AJ – Listen to The hook
Francis Ngannou remains adamant his defeat to Tyson Fury in October was a robbery as he and Anthony Joshua kept an eye on each other in Saudi Arabia ahead of the highly anticipated clash in March.
The former UFC heavyweight champion shocked the Gypsy King – and the boxing world – with a performance that saw the Brit knocked out in the third round.
Despite losing the fight, Ngannou silenced any doubters who wondered if he could face Fury in his first professional fight.
And he has insisted he was unfairly denied a notable win, while insisting he has no intention of delving into the politics of the sport.
“I’ve been saying this since that night, but I got robbed.” The 37-year-old told Mail Sport. “But I think I brought a lot from that fight too.
Francis Ngannou stunned Tyson Fury and knocked him down in the third round of their October clash
“Honestly, he was really cool, but he wasn’t something that could get me off the chair. The Top 10 and all that stuff, to be honest, I’m skeptical about getting involved in boxing politics.
“I’m just here to find the good fights and get them. What happens a lot is that boxing politics controls some fights and prevents big fights because everyone is concerned about rankings or positions.
“They have to win and be at 20-0, even if that means they haven’t fought anyone. That’s definitely something I don’t really care about.
‘In martial arts it is always risky to fight. There is a risk that you could lose. Of course you want to win. If you want to become world champion, you will have to fight the fiercest fighters, elite fighters who have the same dream as you. To keep your dream alive you have to kill someone.’
Ngannou’s performance has catapulted him into the heart of the hotly contested heavyweight division – no longer an insignificant attraction, but a true competitor in the class.
In his next fight he will face a rejuvenated Joshua, who Otto Wallin dismantled last month. ‘The Predator’ admitted he will no longer be able to take advantage of being an unknown quantity in his most ‘complex’ fight yet.
The 37-year-old will test his abilities against the rejuvenated Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia in March
“The most complex thing now is obviously AJ, because I haven’t fought him.” He added. He is the undiscovered one.
“I saw the fight and he looked good. He showed all the right signals, even though Wallin didn’t threaten at all. AJ did his job and did a great job.
‘Immediately after the fight I started thinking about what the next step could be. I realized that next time there will be no element of surprise anymore. Now I have been exposed and everyone will be very prepared. Tyson didn’t know exactly what he was getting into. That will make my life more difficult.
“I don’t think the hardest puncher means anything. Anyone can take out anyone in the heavyweight division. The most important thing is that you find your place and know your stroke.’