In March, the boxing ring witnessed an electrifying clash between Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua, which ended in a dramatic defeat for Ngannou. The knockout punch delivered to the Cameroonian was particularly shocking, sparking widespread debate about the pivotal moment.
Before his fight with Joshua, Ngannou had made a strong impression with his performance against Tyson Fury, even though he lost by decision. However, his bout with “AJ” did not go as well. The British fighter took Ngannou seriously and quickly secured a decisive victory with a knockout in the second round.
In a recent interview on the JRE MMA Show hosted by Joe Rogan, Francis Ngannou revisited that dramatic fight. He shared his perspective on the loss, asserting that it wasn’t the punch itself that knocked him down.
Ngannou said, “I entered the ring not feeling my best. In the first round, I went down and wondered if I had slipped. I felt the punch, but it wasn’t the punch that made me fall. I was really confused at that moment.”
He added, “He hit my hand before hitting my face, and I felt it. I felt the punch, but it wasn’t enough to put me down. After that, my vision started to blur, and I couldn’t focus. I remember exactly what happened until I sat in the corner, but I forgot the minutes that followed.”
Ngannou’s discussion didn’t end with the fight; he also spoke about a difficult period he went through afterward, as he tragically lost his 15-month-old son, Kobi. During the same podcast, he reflected on this heartbreaking time, adding a deeply personal dimension to his story.
These comments provide new insights into Francis Ngannou’s performance that night and highlight the personal challenges he faced beyond the ring.
