She gave the commendation in a statement by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
Browsing: Francis Ngannou
Ngannou took part in just his second boxing match after an impressive display in his debut against Tyson Fury.
Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, will fight the ex-UFC champion in Riyadh on Friday.
He will box the mixed martial artist three months after an impressive fifth-round stoppage of Otto Wallin in December.
It was, indeed, a fight that almost delivered one of boxing’s biggest upsets.
Fury, who holds the WBC heavyweight title, will box the ex-UFC heavyweight champion in Riyadh on 28 October, but the Briton has hinted that he already has his eyes on a rematch in a different discipline.
Ngannou’s 10-round bout against Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) is scheduled for October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fury most recently fought last December, stopping compatriot Derek Chisora inside 10 rounds, but talks over an undisputed world title showdown against Oleksandr Usyk bitterly broke down earlier this year.
The UFC star never lost his world title in the octagon but decided this weekend that he wouldn’t be signing an extended contract with the promotion, thus vacating the belt and moving on to other options. And he believes that it’s likely his next fight will take place in a boxing ring, with Joshua one of his dream opponents.
Both Fury and Ngannou have stated that they plan on fighting each other next year in what would be the two top heavyweights in boxing and the UFC going head-to-head.
Ngannou had gone into his last heavyweight title defence against Ciryl Gane with a completely torn ACL and damaged ACL, but still emerged victorious on the scorecards.
Fury announced on Tuesday that his world title defence against Whyte at Wembley on April 23 will be his retirement fight.
The two have gone back and forth over the past few months, and both made their intentions clear of wanting to fight one another.
The 35-year-old has been gaining traction in the media in recent weeks due to a potential showdown with boxing’s world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Ngannou is set to defend his title against interim champion and former teammate, Ciryl Gane, this month.
The UFC champion has had tension with the promotion, which could see him return to his boxing roots.
Ngannou, who knocked out Stipe Miocic last March to win the heavyweight title, has been locked in a contract dispute with the UFC in recent months, though the organisation’s president Dana White said this week that he recently had a “good talk” with the French-Cameroonian.
Yet ‘The Gypsy King’ maintains it will not be a traditional MMA bout, instead offering Ngannou the chance to box him inside the Octagon whilst wearing four ounce gloves.