Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou openly questioned Anthony Joshua’s ability to absorb a hit, and Joshua kept his eyes fixed on him.
In a high-stakes press conference on Monday, Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou formally announced their upcoming ‘Knockout Chaos’ showdown. The event is set for March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The atmosphere remained cordial until presenter Josh Denzel brought up Ngannou’s recent remarks about Joshua’s chin. The former UFC champion openly questioned Joshua’s ability to withstand a hit, setting the stage for a verbal showdown.
Ngannou is renowned for his knockout prowess, and expressed skepticism about Joshua’s chin during an appearance on The MMA Hour. Ngannou said: “If AJ takes the punch that Fury took, I don’t guarantee that he’s standing up. I’ve heard that he doesn’t have a chin. I’m going to find out.”
Known for adopting a safety-first approach post his 2019 defeat to Andy Ruiz, Joshua maintained a stoic demeanor. When confronted about his punch resistance, Ngannou reiterated his intentions, stating, “I’m going to fight him, so what do you think I’m going to do? Look for his chin.”
Since he was repeatedly knocked down and stopped during his first professional loss against Andy Ruiz in 2019, Joshua has maintained a safety-first approach.
With a sinister gaze, the Englishman watched as his upcoming opponent danced about the topic.
Ngannou continued, “I’m going to fight him, so what do you think I’m going to do? Look for his chin. I mean, that’s what happens in a fight. In a fight, you try to hit somebody in the chin or wherever you can hit him, right?”
“Yes, I heard that he doesn’t have a chin. I don’t know if it’s true or not. We are going to find out. I hope I get the opportunity to test that out. That’s my wish, that’s what I’m wishing for.””
Despite the verbal jabs, Joshua remained composed and just looked mean. It seems like he is currently focused on securing another world title and the newly unveiled undisputed championship belt presented by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Authority for Entertainment.
Anticipation is building for the ‘Knockout Chaos’ clash, with the hope that the victor will progress to face the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk who are competing for the undisputed heavyweight championship later this year.