Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou press conference LIVE: Latest updates ahead of fight in Saudi Arabia
Re-live updates after the fighters shared a stage and traded words, two days before their heavyweight clash
Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou went face to face at a press conference on Wednesday, just 48 hours before fight night in Saudi Arabia.
Former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua will box Ngannou, a former UFC champion, in Riyadh on Friday (8 March), in the latter’s second fight in the sport. The Cameroonian, 37, made his boxing debut in October, flooring WBC champion Tyson Fury en route to a controversial decision loss.
Now Ngannou has returned to Riyadh for another clash with a Briton, as he prepares to face “AJ”, 34. Joshua’s last fight also came in the Saudi city, as he stopped Otto Wallin in five rounds in December. With that, the Olympic gold medalist made it three wins from three fights in 2023, following his stoppage of Robert Helenius and decision victory over Jermaine Franklin.
Joshua vs Ngannou has been billed as “Knockout Chaos”, but before the heavyweights trade punches, they traded words at Wednesday’s press conference. Re-live updates below.
Joshua vs Ngannou press conference LIVE
Now we hear from 3-0 cruiserweight Roman Fury, brother of Tyson.
The 27-year-old is set to box 2-0 Czech fighter Martin Svarc on Friday.
Again, calmness and confidence on display from Roman.
Joshua vs Ngannou press conference LIVE
Andrii Novytskyi and Juan Torres are the first to speak. The Ukrainian and the American are set to square off in a heavyweight clash.
Torres sounds confident, Novytskyi English is not the best, but he sounds calm.
Joshua vs Ngannou press conference LIVE
Undercard boxers are starting to make their way onto the stage!
We’ll have an undercard press conference first, before Joshua, Ngannou, Zhilei Zhang, Joseph Parker, Nick Ball and Rey Vargas emerge for their own presser.
Joshua vs Ngannou press conference LIVE
Tyson Fury also just added further credence to Turki Al-Sheikh’s suggestion that the winner of Friday’s bout could challenge the Fury vs Usyk winner later this year.
However, Fury and Usyk are expected to fight twice this year.
Al-Sheikh is the Saudi Adviser behind the Gulf state’s presence in the boxing world. He will be referred to numerous times at today’s press conference, largely as “His Excellency”.
Joshua vs Ngannou press conference LIVE
Tyson Fury is on the pre-press conference panel, and he’s already been censored a couple of times.
I just about made out “ungrateful f***er”, seemingly in reference to Ngannou, and Fury admitting that he put in a “s*** performance” against the Cameroonian.
Fury does, however, credit Ngannou for surviving that stray elbow that the “Gypsy King” landed on him.
Joshua vs Ngannou press conference LIVE
The room is starting to fill up in Riyadh, where this afternoon’s press conference is moments away from beginning.
Joshua vs Ngannou press conference LIVE
We’re approximately 10 minutes away from the start of the press conference! Don’t go anywhere.
Anthony Joshua’s coach highlights undervalued strength ahead of Francis Ngannou fight
In an interview with The Telegraph this week, Joshua’s coach Ben Davison opened up on an underrated area of AJ’s game.
Here’s what Davison, a former coach of Tyson Fury, had to say:
Anthony Joshua’s coach highlights undervalued strength ahead of Francis Ngannou fight
Davison, a former coach of Tyson Fury, teamed up with ‘AJ’ ahead of a December win over Otto Wallin
Anthony Joshua reveals why he still lives at home with his mother at the age of 34
Anthony Joshua reveals why he still lives at home with his mother at the age of 34
Anthony Joshua has opened up on why he still lives at home with his mother at the age of 34. The two-time former unified world heavyweight champion spoke of his enjoyment of spending time with his family, ahead of his fight against Francis Ngannou on Friday (8 March). In an interview with Good Morning Britain on Monday (4 March). the boxer told hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley: “ I train away from home a lot and I realised if I was to move out I would never actually see my mum. “My base is with Mum so I can wake up and see her and spend time with her.”
Anthony Joshua’s notes and a scary Francis Ngannou handshake: The details you didn’t see
This is not the first Joshua vs Ngannou press conference; in January, The Independent was present at the first edition in London, and we documented some behind-the-scenes happenings for you...
Anthony Joshua’s notes, a scary Francis Ngannou handshake: The details you didn’t see
Backstage at a press conference in London, Alex Pattle and a small group of reporters met the protagonists of Saudi Arabia’s next boxing mega-card
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