As far as Anthony Joshua sees it, Francis Ngannou’s career is in the sport of boxing.
Joshua, a former boxing champion, meets Ngannou, the ex-UFC heavyweight champion, this Friday live from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
“I thought this whole crossover thing wasn’t serious,” Joshua said (thanks to MMA Junkie for the quotes). “If I would’ve taken a crossover fight, people would’ve been like, ‘What the F is Anthony Joshua doing?’
“I wouldn’t have been able to walk out of my house. But now people are taking it more seriously. So it helped me as well to get me motivated and take the fight because it gives me a chance to show how great I am.”
Ngannou made his boxing debut last year, taking reigning champion Tyson Fury to the distance. He even knocked Fury to the canvas early in the bout.
Joshua, a 34-year-old who is a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The Watford, England native has won his last three including a December finish of Otto Wallin.
For someone who has been a professional boxer since 2013 and owns wins over Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr. and Dillian Whyte, he views Ngannou as a true boxer.
Anthony Joshua: Ngannou ‘A Good Addition’ To Boxing
“He’s a boxer (now),” Joshua said. “It’s his choice (if he goes back to MMA). “I think he’s a good addition.
“He adds some global supporters as well. It’s great for boxing as a whole.”
Despite what Joshua feels, Ngannou is expected to return to mixed martial arts. He is signed to a contract with the PFL and is helping with the expansion of the league in his home country of Africa.
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