In the lead-up to their highly anticipated superfight on March 8 in Riyadh, Francis Ngannou has made a bold promise, vowing to take Anthony Joshua's soul in the boxing showdown.
The fiery exchange of words was sparked by comments made by Joshua during an interview with DAZN on January 15. The British fighter declared,
"This fight is my everything: my soul, my spirit, my mind, my body." Right now I’m not thinking about any championship belts," Joshua emphasized. ".... You have to take someone's soul, you have to take their spirit. And I'm looking forward to the challenge for sure."
"The Predator," responded to Joshua's remarks in an interview on February 4, stating, "They say never say never. Nothing is impossible, right?
“We don’t know the strength of Anthony Joshua... but we’re going to find out in two months. We’re going to find out, and I think the reverse is going to happen. I’m going to be the one taking his soul."
While Joshua is widely expected to secure a clear victory in the upcoming bout, Ngannou, who faced daunting odds as an underdog against Tyson Fury in late 2023, remains confident in his ability to reverse the expected outcome.
The boxing community, including legends like Lennox Lewis, has cautioned Joshua about the challenges posed by Ngannou. Lewis questioned whether a victory against Ngannou would elevate Joshua to a shot at undisputed status, suggesting other contenders with stronger cases.
Despite the speculation and warnings, Joshua has already indicated that he is no longer chasing undisputed status, stating, "I'm done with all that."
As the superfight draws near, the clash between Ngannou and Joshua promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with both fighters aiming to make a statement in Riyadh.