Francis Ngannou opens up about Anthony Joshua’s power following knockout loss in Saudi Arabia: “In fact, I didn’t feel the punch”

Francis Ngannou has given his thoughts on the knockout blow he suffered at the hands of Anthony Joshua.

Last night, Anthony Joshua proved that he’s a class above Francis Ngannou in the boxing ring. He dropped ‘The Predator’ twice before eventually knocking him out cold in the second round of their showdown in Saudi Arabia. Now, many are left to wonder what the future holds for Ngannou in both boxing and MMA.

At the very least, he’ll need to take some time off after such a devastating KO defeat. From there, he could either opt to take on another boxing bout, or venture back to mixed martial arts with PFL.

RELATED: Pros react after Anthony Joshua brutally KO’s Francis Ngannou

After the contest, Francis spoke to the media about the knockout blow and what he remembers about it.

Francis Ngannou on Anthony Joshua's knockout punch. 🥊#BBCBoxing #JoshuaNgannou pic.twitter.com/RriTNs4npp

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 9, 2024

Ngannou laughs it off

“In fact, I didn’t feel the punch. I think that’s what the knockout is about [laughs]! I don’t feel any pain. That’s how I know I was knocked out.”

Even in the aftermath of such a big defeat, it’s great to see the former UFC heavyweight champion in good spirits. While he didn’t get the win he desired, he certainly got the kind of payday that he could only dream of in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Regardless of what he does next, Ngannou has laid out a pretty fascinating blueprint for those who want to leave the promotion. Instead of fighters thinking there are no better options out there, he’s proven that certainly isn’t the case.

What do you believe Francis Ngannou should do next in his career? Are you excited by the idea of fighting in MMA again? Will we ever see him return to the UFC, or has that bridge officially been burned? Let us know, BJPENN Nation!