Francis Ngannou’s second professional boxing match took place on Friday, March 8th, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, against two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Ngannou lost to Joshua in the second round by knockout. The former UFC heavyweight champion is now 0-2 in his boxing career.
On Instagram Live, Francis Ngannou stated that he knew he could lose and was always prepared for that outcome. Ngannou added that he didn’t expect to lose like that.
“We all knew it could happen. I wasn’t seeing it happen like that, but I always knew it could happen. At least, I was always prepared for that. I remember being in the locker room trying to warm up, and bro, it wasn’t going. I was falling asleep. I’m sweating, but I’m falling asleep. But I assume that’s how some people I have fought, some people that I beat have felt before, but it was basically my first time to feel that. That’s why I kind of took a couple of days out; I took some time for me. I obviously had to reflect on everything that’s happened through the fight.”
The 37-year-old then praised Anthony Joshua and his team, as well as his own team, for doing a great job. Ngannou blamed himself for losing the match.
“Heads up to Anthony Joshua to his team, that executed their plan properly. Hats off to my team, too, because they did a great job. I think I was the one [who] just didn’t execute the plan properly and maybe didn’t feel completely present. I was the only one that didn’t show up, let’s say that. Everybody showed up and did what should have been done. No blame to anybody. All the blame is just about me. That’s the game.”