Francis Ngannou suffered a stunning knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua last night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The former UFC heavyweight champion was put to sleep in the second round of his dust-up with Anthony Joshua.
But despite the defeat Ngannou has vowed to continue boxing.
When asked how he felt after being knocked out by Joshua, Ngannou replied: ‘Sad, that’s how I’m feeling.’
MORE HERE:🚨 What Anthony Joshua told Francis Ngannou after devastating knockout in Saudi Arabia was classy
‘I think I can still do both [MMA and Boxing],’ Ngannou said.
‘I’m going to take some time to rest, come back and make it.
‘I knew what I was doing was dangerous to come to the top of the game from my beginning and that’s what happened.’
When quizzed on what surprised him about the British heavyweight he admitted that Joshua’s timing was the thing that surprised him the most.
Ngannou said: ‘I think he got the right timing.
‘It was about the timing, mostly.’
In another interview with SecondsOut he once again reiterated his desire to continue in the sport.
‘Absolutely, I think right now I have an obligation to continue, I think boxing owes me now and I intend to collect what it owes me.
‘I appreciate the support. As always, I will come back. This was a fall, I lost the battle tonight but the war is still on.
‘At the end of the day it’s a matter for me, I think the biggest victory for me is to continue fighting, and the defeat is not actually losing the fight, defeat would be like quitting or letting it get to you.’
This ringside angle of @anthonyjoshua's finish is SAVAGE ☠️#JoshuaNgannou | #KnockoutChaos | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/YJYV8hPmmD
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 9, 2024
It’s all about timing?
Pro boxing is nothing but timing, in the heavyweight game, he who lands, wins!
Nganou jumped into the big league far too early.
That’s the difference between working your way up the ranks using mandatory opponents or getting a quick go at the circus promoters ring, where Pantomime acts like Fury live.
He’s way too slow to take on AJ and he just doesn’t have the skills. Against Fury who spends most of his time cuddling and blowing out of his backside, he felt comfortable. But that’s the difference between big punching lard arse and a skilled Pro boxer in great form!
Absolutely! He came to play, AJ came to fight! 🥊
What does boxing owe him ?
A place on the floor and he got paid in full!
Tyson Fury probably drank 10 pints the night before fighting Francis!!
Exactly, boxing doesn’t owe him anything.
He just wants to fight again and not get beat so bad. Because going down like that was embarrassing.