Tag: Anthony Joshua

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of UFC exit: ‘I was broke’

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of UFC exit I was brokeFormer undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has revealed former welterweight titleholder, Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of…

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of UFC exit I was broke

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has revealed former welterweight titleholder, Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of his final Octagon walk two years ago – claiming he was “broke” heading into the final bout on his contract with the Dana White-led promotion.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion, currently signed to the PFL (Professional Fighters League), is slated to make his return to combat sports this weekend in Saudi Arabia, making his sophomore outing in the boxing ring.

Taking former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, Batié native, Joshua most recently went the distance against unbeaten WBC champion, Tyson Fury last August, scoring a knockdown on the British fighter in a controversial split decision loss.

AJ Ngannou weigh ins

And sharing details on his final contracted fight with the UFC two years ago ahead of his return to Riyadh to take on Joshua, ex-heavyweight titleholder, Ngannou revealed he earned just $600,000 for his fight with then-interim champion, Ciryl Gane – requiring a significant loan from former pound-for-pound king, Usman due to his financial struggles.

Francis Ngannou reveals deed from Kamaru Usman

“He (Kamaru Usman) knew a lot about stuff I turned down from the UFC during negotiation,” Francis Ngannou told Pound 4 Pound during a recent appearance. “Even my last fight in the UFC, you know, I took $600,000 for my last fight in the UFC as opposed to $5,000,000 that they were offering for the same fight. I was like, ‘Bro.’ And, I was broke, at the time I owe (Kamaru) usman – I owe him $200,000.”

“I had a goal, I had my own way, I wanted something,” Francis Ngannou explained. “And it couldn’t be delivered. I couldn’t sell out what I wanted just because of more money. Obviously, I needed that money, I had never had that amount of money.”

A close friend of Cameroonian knockout ace, Ngannou, former welterweight best, Usman recently claimed that if he simply put his mind to it – and even wanted to, he could very well reclaim his welterweight championship in the future.

Can Francis Ngannou spoils the party and beat Anthony Joshua this weekend?

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of UFC exit: ‘I was broke’

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of UFC exit I was brokeFormer undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has revealed former welterweight titleholder, Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of…

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of UFC exit I was broke

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has revealed former welterweight titleholder, Kamaru Usman lent him $200,000 ahead of his final Octagon walk two years ago – claiming he was “broke” heading into the final bout on his contract with the Dana White-led promotion.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion, currently signed to the PFL (Professional Fighters League), is slated to make his return to combat sports this weekend in Saudi Arabia, making his sophomore outing in the boxing ring.

Taking former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, Batié native, Joshua most recently went the distance against unbeaten WBC champion, Tyson Fury last August, scoring a knockdown on the British fighter in a controversial split decision loss.

AJ Ngannou weigh ins

And sharing details on his final contracted fight with the UFC two years ago ahead of his return to Riyadh to take on Joshua, ex-heavyweight titleholder, Ngannou revealed he earned just $600,000 for his fight with then-interim champion, Ciryl Gane – requiring a significant loan from former pound-for-pound king, Usman due to his financial struggles.

Francis Ngannou reveals deed from Kamaru Usman

“He (Kamaru Usman) knew a lot about stuff I turned down from the UFC during negotiation,” Francis Ngannou told Pound 4 Pound during a recent appearance. “Even my last fight in the UFC, you know, I took $600,000 for my last fight in the UFC as opposed to $5,000,000 that they were offering for the same fight. I was like, ‘Bro.’ And, I was broke, at the time I owe (Kamaru) usman – I owe him $200,000.”

“I had a goal, I had my own way, I wanted something,” Francis Ngannou explained. “And it couldn’t be delivered. I couldn’t sell out what I wanted just because of more money. Obviously, I needed that money, I had never had that amount of money.”

A close friend of Cameroonian knockout ace, Ngannou, former welterweight best, Usman recently claimed that if he simply put his mind to it – and even wanted to, he could very well reclaim his welterweight championship in the future.

Can Francis Ngannou spoils the party and beat Anthony Joshua this weekend?

Francis Ngannou cooks Tyson Fury at press event in Saudi Arabia: ‘I’ll beat you every day, twice on Sunday!’

Francis Ngannou cooks Tyson FuryThings got intense between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury during a pre-fight press event in Riyadh. On Friday, March…

Francis Ngannou cooks Tyson Fury

Things got intense between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury during a pre-fight press event in Riyadh.

On Friday, March 8, ‘The Predator’ will make his sophomore appearance inside the squared circle when he meets the WBC’s top-ranked heavyweight contender, Anthony Joshua. With the bout mere hours away, both fighters took center stage for a press conference at Kingdom Arena on Wednesday.

During his time on the mic, Ngannou made it clear that once he handles some business with Joshua, a rematch with Tyson Fury will be the top priority.

“He will be the best so far, but I’m just getting started,” said Ngannou. “I’m looking for the victory on Friday, I don’t think it will be a statement because the road is still long. I want one more over Tyson, because I had the first one over him and I intend to have a second!”

Fury, who was in the crowd, shouted something back at Ngannou which elicited a fiery response from the former UFC heavyweight champion.

“I’m going to wipe the ring with your a** again – there was blood in the ring!” Ngannou added. Your only chance is in the boxing ring with boxing rules, when you step out the ring you better stay five metres away because if I lose it, you’ll have a really bad time my friend.

“Respect the fact boxing rules are protecting you, because you are nothing in front of me. I’ll beat you every day, twice on Sunday!”

Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury went 10 rounds in October 2023 with ‘The Gypsy King’ walking away the victor via a very close and downright questionable split decision. Despite the loss, Ngannou was praised by the pundits for his performance, which included a third-round knockdown of Fury. The showing also landed him at No. 10 in the WBC heavyweight rankings, setting the stage for his high-stakes clash with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua goes into the bout with a 27-3 record, 24 of those wins coming by way of knockout. After suffering back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua has won three in a row against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin.

Video – Francis Ngannou gets fresh with female reporter during open workouts in Saudi Arabia

Francis NgannouFrancis Ngannou dropped some game on an unsuspecting DAZN reporter during Tuesday’s open workouts in Riyadh. On Friday, March…

Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou dropped some game on an unsuspecting DAZN reporter during Tuesday’s open workouts in Riyadh.

On Friday, March 8, ‘The Predator’ will return to the squared circle for a high-stakes boxing match with top-ranked WBC heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua inside the Kingdom Arena. The bout will go down five months removed from his critically acclaimed boxing debut against Tyson Fury. Though Ngannou came up controversially short on the scorecards, he delivered a star-making performance, knocking down ‘The Gypsy King’ in the third round.

Ahead of their ‘Knockout Chaos’ headliner, Ngannou stepped inside the ring to show off some of his skills during an open workout session. Immediately following his time in the ring, Ngannou spoke with a DAZN reporter who appeared to catch the former UFC champ’s interest in more ways than one.

“I have something else to do… which is you,” Ngannou said in response to a question, eliciting a laugh from the interviewer.

Clearly, Ngannou is feeling some kind of way after going through another grueling training camp.

But before he can get himself some of that good-good, Ngannou will have to take on one of the baddest men in the sweet science. Anthony Joshua carries with him a record of 27-3 with 24 of his victories coming by way of knockout. After suffering back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua bounced back with three straight wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin.

Tyson Fury claims Francis Ngannou should ‘Get on his knees’, thank him for boxing fight: ‘He needs to thank me’

Tyson Fury claims Francis Ngannou should get on his knees thank him for boxing matchTyson Fury was very adamant about his lack of emotional investment in the upcoming Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua…

Tyson Fury claims Francis Ngannou should get on his knees thank him for boxing match

Tyson Fury was very adamant about his lack of emotional investment in the upcoming Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua fight. However, one thing ‘The Gypsy King’ did say was that Francis Ngannou should be thanking him on his knees for “what he did for him.

Joshua and Ngannou are set to throw down this Friday, March 8th, at the Knockout Chaos event in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou will obviously be looking to secure his first victory over a big-name boxer and continue to build on the momentum gained from an impressive showing in his split-decision loss to Fury.

Tyson Fury was asked about the fight, and seemed slightly bitter about how this fight is being taken significantly more serious by the media and fans in general.

Tyson Fury Speaks on Upcoming Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua Fight, tells Ngannou he needs to “Thank him”

“It’s a good fight [between Joshua and Ngannou],” Fury told The Stomping Ground (H/T MMA Fighting). “When I was fighting Ngannou, it was a mismatch, and it was a bulls*** fight, but it is what it is, isn’t it? Styles make fights, and that’s what it is.

“I’m not sure what people expected of the man before [our fight]. I know it was supposed to be like a 1,000 to 1 shot, and he was useless, and he couldn’t fight and all of that, but he proved everyone wrong, so fantastic for him. I put him on the map, made him a multi-millionaire, and now I’m making him even more money. So he needs to thank me. He needs to get on his knees and kiss my feet, doesn’t he, for what I’ve done for him.”

‘The Gypsy King’ has his own fight in Saudi Arabia to prepare for. Later this year, he will be taking on Oleksandr Usyk in a title unification bout to officially prove who will reign supreme over heavyweight boxing.

When asked about his prediction for the Ngannou vs Joshua fight, Fury wouldn’t let himself be forced into picking a side.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care, to be honest,” Tyson Fury began. “Listen, whatever happens, happens. The best man will win on the night. They’re heavyweight giants, aren’t they? So anyone can win. Brilliant fights, actually, on Friday. I’m looking forward to the bill, the whole bill.”

Who do you think will be victorious between Joshua and Ngannou?