Anthony Joshua Vows to ‘Expose’ Francis Ngannou’s Mentality

There is no denying that the sport of boxing is taxing both physically and mentally. As the date for the highly anticipated showdown between former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (0-1) draws closer, AJ revealed that he wishes to expose a few chinks in Ngannou’s armor.

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In a recent interview, Joshua spoke about the mindset that fighters should possess. He mentioned that everything was mental, not only for elite fighters but also for regular people.

Moreover, he added that while each fighter possesses their own physical prowess, their mentality is what makes it or breaks it inside the ring. “Would you say that boxing is 80 percent physical or 80 percent mental?” he said. “So, the physical part is one thing. But, the mentality of a fighter, that’s what I need to figure out, and I need to expose in Ngannou.”

“I can knock him out”

It sure looks like Joshua is certain of his victory against Ngannou. In fact, he is even confident that he would be able to showcase an explosive knockout finish. “I believe I can knock him out. Definitely, I would love to knock him out and make a statement,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports. “Physically, I feel strong, feeling good. Strong enough to get the job done, and mentally, I’m in a place where I’m ready for war. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

The fight marks Joshua’s return to Riyadh after an impressive TKO against Otto Wallin (26-2-1, 14 KOs) in December. There is no doubt that he is looking forward to repeating the same magic against Ngannou. “Mentally, I don’t worry so much about my opponent and look at what my opponent can bring to me and think, ‘How can I overcome these challenges they present?’ I work really hard to up my game and look forward to showing everything I’ve worked on,” he said.

With merely days remaining for the fight, Joshua and Ngannou are gearing up to give fans one hell of a show.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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