“I’m rooting for Francis, just because of his story, how far he’s come in life, and because he is a mixed martial artist like myself,” the American told DAZN at the Bellator and PFL co-main event in Riyadh. “How can you not root for Francis? He’s a wonderful, straightforward person. But Anthony Joshua has been doing it since he was a kid, and I’m the kind of guy who shows proper respect when it’s needed. I don’t gamble, but if I had to put my money on it, I’d put it on Anthony Joshua. Sorry, Francis!”
As a reminder, a ten-round boxing match between former UFC titleholder, Francis Ngannou, and former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, will take place on March 8 in Riyadh. The winner of this fight will be the main candidate to fight the winner of the clash between Tyson Fury and Alexander Usik, which will determine the absolute world champion in boxing in the heavyweight division.