OUR BOXING NEWS IS KNOCKOUT! HE’S FRAN-TASTIC BLASTS HAPPY AJ
ANTHONY Joshua urged Francis Ngannou not to quit boxing after he defeated the 37- yearold in just his second professional fight in Riyadh.
Joshua knocked the former UFC champion out in the second round leaving him requiring oxygen in the ring.
Ngannou, who performed well in losing narrowly on points to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in what had been his only previous fight, started brightly again in Riyadh, holding his own well for much of the first round.
Fought
He was put on the canvas by Joshua with about a minute to go in the round, and when he went down again in the second there appeared to be little chance of Ngannou continuing.
“On the road to the championship, you should always stay focused,” Joshua said.
“I thought this was something for the broadcasters to get behind.
“When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury, I thought I want some of that. ( Ngannou) is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities. I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he fought the best.”
For Joshua it is now four wins in a row as he put himself in prime position to meet the winner of the May 18 fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
“The Ben Davison performance centre, I appreciate them highly,” he said.
“All of these guys that I worked with until this day. I’m just hungry. Stay hungry and all that good stuff I have to say.
“It only takes one shot in the heavyweight division. Joseph Parker is one of my favourite fighters, he had it tough and look at him now. I’m just doing it while I’m here and making the most of it. In five years I won’t be fighting.
“Eddie Hearn and my team will shape my future. I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again.
“The people of Cameroon, I appreciate you. Africa united, respect.
“Everyone here tonight, I appreciate you. Thank you to Francis Ngannou.”
Meanwhile, Mike Tyson says he’s looking forward to getting back in the ring to face YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul in a heavyweight bout to be shown live on Netflix.
Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions ( MVP) announced the July 20 contest on Thursday, but there has been no clarification as to whether it will be an exhibition or a professional boxing match.
Legend
Former world heavyweight champion Tyson ( 50- 6, 44KOs) ended his stellar career in 2005 with defeat to Kevin McBride, but did take on old rival Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition in 2020.
Paul fought on the undercard of Tyson’s draw with Jones Jr in Los Angeles and has gone on to forge a boxing career in recent years, notably losing to Tommy Fury – the brother of Tyson Fury – in Diriyah last year.
Boxing great Tyson, who will turn 58 in June, said: “I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul.
“He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a “kid” can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT.
“It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
Paul’s experience in boxing extends to 10 official bouts after he first stepped into the ring in 2018 to beat fellow YouTuber Deji Olatunji in a white- collar match at Manchester Arena.
“It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard.
“Now, less than four years later, I’m stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing’s most notorious fighters and biggest icons,” Paul ( 9- 1, 6KOs) said.
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion ever, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time.
“This will be the fight of a lifetime.”