WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has praised Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) following the former two-time unified world heavyweight champion’s stunning second-round knockout win over Francis Ngannou (0-2) on Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua proved his doubters wrong following the showcase encounter with Ngannou, the former UFC champion, whom some believed could prove a difficult night’s work for Joshua. The consensus came from critics following Ngannou’s impressive showing against a lackluster Fury in October last year.
Against Joshua, Ngannou was dropped three times in two rounds – once in the opening session, before suffering two knockdowns in quick succession in the second, with the final knockdown ultimately leaving Ngannou in no position to continue and the contest being immediately waved off.
Fury, an interested ringside observer in Riyadh, said he was impressed by Joshua’s knockout performance in an interview with IFLTV in the Saudi capital.
“I thought it was absolutely fantastic – it was a fantastic knockout,” Fury said. “I almost got my prediction right, because I had picked AJ to win inside one round, but he got it in two.”
Fury believes Ngannou has had a rude awakening following his knockout loss to Joshua. Ngannou previously portrayed a confident figure, having dropped Fury, the WBC world heavyweight champion, before losing a narrow split decision verdict.
“It was a very rude awakening for Ngannou,” Fury said. “He got a little bit cocky; it was what it was. He got knocked out, and that’s what a boxer should do to an MMA fighter.
“So credit to AJ, because he did a fantastic job. I expected this to happen. I had said AJ would win inside a round, but I got it wrong today.”
Fury will fight unified heavyweight title holder Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 in Riyadh, the first installment of a two-fight agreement to contest the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Fury concluded that if he should get beyond Usyk, he will be willing to negotiate a fight with his domestic rival Joshua, believing Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, could finally help get the two sides to agree to terms.
“I never thought it would ever happen,” Fury said of a potential Joshua matchup. “I have said that many, many times. But it is getting closer and closer, and with Turki Alalshikh, anything is possible. He is the magic man.”