Francis Ngannou told reporters he didn’t even feel the knockout punch Anthony Joshua leveled to end their heavyweight boxing match in the second round on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
This angle of Anthony Joshua’s knockout punch 😳🥊
(via @DAZNBoxing)
pic.twitter.com/TAN4UH3tTq
“In fact, I didn’t feel the punch,” Ngannou said, per Josh Peter of USA Today. “I think that’s what the knockout is about. I don’t feel any pain. That’s how I know I was knocked out.”
As combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani noted, this match marked the first time Ngannou has been knocked down and knocked out. Joshua dropped Ngannou in Round 1 before finishing the match in Round 2.
MMA Junkie @MMAJunkie
Joshua DROPS Ngannou in Round 1 🫣 #JoshuaNgannou pic.twitter.com/9BdcWxxjpq
Ngannou was out briefly before he made it to his stool. Officials then administered oxygen to the former UFC heavyweight champion, per ESPN’s Mike Coppinger.
Ngannou reached out to his followers post-match:
Francis Ngannou @francis_ngannou
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 ❤️
Joshua also showed love to his opponent:
Anthony Joshua @anthonyjoshua
Respect my guy 🤝 African Giants 🌍 @francis_ngannou pic.twitter.com/PBIMf0q73l
This marked Ngannou’s second professional boxing match after he made his debut with a competitive split decision defeat to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury last October.
Joshua, a former heavyweight champion, improved to 28-3 lifetime with 25 knockouts.
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