The mixed martial arts representative generously praised his offender.
Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou commented on defeat from former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.
The Cameroonian-French MMA fighter lost by knockout in the second round, having previously been knocked down twice – in the first and second rounds.
After the end of the fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a representative of mixed martial arts complimented Joshua’s performance and stated that it was different from what WBC heavyweight title holder Tyson Fury showed in the fight against Ngannou.
“It was a clean blow. I didn't even feel it. That's the essence of a knockout. You don't feel any pain. That's how I know I was knocked out.
Sorry guys, I let you down. It was something special because this guy stopped me. He did what Tyson Fury couldn't. It wasn't my day. Joshua was much better than me. It sucks, but this is our job,” Ngannou admitted in a commentary to MMA Fighting.
Note that for 37-year-old Ngannou this was his second experience in professional boxing. In the previous fight, he was on the night of October 29, 2023 Fury lost by split decision. In the third round, Francis knocked down the “Gypsy King,” but the judges named the Briton the winner.
Joshua won his 28th professional victory ring (25 by knockout). The 34-year-old Briton won his fourth fight in a row after two defeats from the Ukrainian Alexander Usik, which stripped him of the world champion belts under WBO, WBA, IBO and IBF.