Mixed Martial Arts champion Francis Ngannou has admitted his defeat and apologised to his supporters worldwide following his knockout loss to boxing heavyweight Anthony Joshua in the Riyadh Season last night.
Joshua secured victory with a second-round knockout, marking Ngannou’s second boxing encounter and his second defeat.
Ngannou crumbled to the ground for a third time and could not stand back on time following Joshua’s right hand punch.
“Sorry guys I let you all down. Today was a bad day in the office but tomorrow will be another day. Thank you all for the love,” Ngannou regretted on his social media platforms.
This defeat follows Ngannou’s debut loss in boxing against the undefeated World Boxing Champion Tyson Fury in October last year.
Unlike the Fury match, where Ngannou held his head high despite the split decision loss, he candidly admitted his defeat by Anthony Joshua and acknowledged Joshua’s superior performance.
Ngannou succeeded in knocking down Fury down in third round of the 10-round match.
But this was different against British-Nigerian boxing legend Anthony Joshua, who knocked out the 37-year-old MMA champion
thrice.
“He was quite special because he stopped me. He did what Tyson Fury couldn’t do. It wasn’t my day and he is just way better than me today. It’s the game, we all know that,” Ngannou reacted during a post-match press conference.
When questioned about the knockout, Ngannou, while laughing, said, “In fact, I didn’t feel the punch. I think that’s what the knockout is all about.”
Ngannou’s journey in boxing has seen him face reigning champions, showcasing his ambition and courage in transitioning from MMA to boxing.
Ngannou, who has won 17 UFC encounters out of 20, was crowned MMA heavyweight champion in 2021.
Anthony Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxing legend has won 28 fights and lost just three.
He commended Ngannou during the post-match press conference, noting the UFC champion’s value to the fight game.
On the eve of the fight, Joshua had asserted that he would not underestimate Ngannou, despite him being a novice in boxing.
The right-hand knockout in the first round set the tone for Joshua’s victory, securing three knockdowns against the MMA champion.
He advised Ngannou not to be discouraged by the defeat.
“Don’t let this discourage you, don’t let failure get to your heart,” said Joshua during the press conference.
“I think you are an asset to boxing. He’s an asset to the fight game. Don’t be discouraged, and I respect you regardless.”
Ngannou’s venture into boxing has captured the attention of fans globally, and despite the recent setbacks, the UFC champion’s resilience and sportsmanship remain evident.
