Francis Ngannou intensified the psychological warfare ahead of his Friday showdown with Anthony Joshua, branding himself an underdog against the British-Nigerian boxer. Despite his impressive performance against Tyson Fury in his debut boxing match, where he dragged the bout for the entire ten rounds and scored a knockdown, Ngannou believes he is still inferior to Joshua.
In his second professional boxing bout, Ngannou faces Joshua, who boasts a 26-3 record, with his latest victory against Otto Wallin in December. The 37-year-old Cameroonian expressed his underdog status, emphasizing that he's still learning and adapting to the boxing world. In a confident yet light-hearted remark, Ngannou stated that he would take on both Fury and Joshua simultaneously if the fight were in a different location.
Readers polled by Vanguard overwhelmingly predicted that Joshua would secure the first knockdown in the upcoming bout, serving as a confidence boost for the favored boxer. The fight, scheduled for 10 rounds, is expected to begin at 11 PM Nigerian time, with an undercard featuring Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker and other exciting matchups.
As the anticipation builds, boxing enthusiasts in Lagos voiced their support for Joshua, expecting him to emerge victorious in the challenging clash against Ngannou. The prize money for the event is reported to be $50 million for Joshua and $20 million for Ngannou, excluding potential pay-per-view points. The full undercard features compelling matchups, promising an action-packed night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.