Francis Ngannou was not feeling himself in the moments prior to his boxing match against Anthony Joshua.
October saw Ngannou put the boxing world on notice when he took WBC champion, Tyson Fury, to a decision victory in his debut.
The former UFC heavyweight champion knocked Fury down during the bout and won multiple rounds. Many fans and pundits scored the fight for the debutant.
His second outing in the squared circle was much different however. “The Predator” was sat down by Joshua in the very first round by a straight right hand. Round two became worse when he was knocked down again, before being knocked unconscious by the same thunderous right hand.
Less than a week after the fight, Ngannou revealed that he was struggling in the locker room before his clash. In an interview shared by TheMacLife, he explained how his scattered physical state affected his performance.
“Even in the locker room, trying warm up, it wasn’t going well I was falling asleep. I was sweating but I was falling asleep. That’s why I took some time out for me, some time to reflect on everything that happened to me.”
Francis Ngannou Praise for his Opponent
Ngannou went on to re-congratulate Joshua and his camp, continuing to show respect for the Englishman.
“Heads up to Anthony Joshua, they did everything right. Heads up to my team too, we did everything properly but I didn’t execute the plan because I didn’t feel present. I was the only one that didn’t show up, let’s say that.”
Although timing of the fight was not mentioned, it is worth noting that the card lasted several hours. Joshua and Ngannou’s ring-walk did not begin till 3am in Saudi Arabia, where the fight was held.
The Cameroonian’s next move is still unclear, with boxing and MMA options both on the table at present.
“Right now, I don’t know exactly what the fight I will be looking for next. I know that I’m going to take some time to rest up, focus on myself, and then when I’m ready I will get back to training.”
Whether he returns to boxing immediately or decides to take a detour back to the world of MMA, eyes will be on Ngannou wherever “The Predator” decides to roam.
