Anthony Joshua's Comeback Creed: Back to the Gym, Back to Greatness

Anthony Joshua was nonchalant, having despatched Francis Ngannou in crushing fashion in Saudi Arabia last night.

He maintained that demeanor during the post-fight press conference, where he was later joined by Ngannou.

The former London 2012 Olympian, now standing at 28-3 (25 KOs) after the knockout, expressed his openness to boxing again in early summer.

He mentioned his intention to resume training promptly, considering he had already fought four times within the year as a 34-year-old two-time world champion.

The highlight for me is returning to the gym, building on a solid training camp, and stepping back into the ring to do what I love," Joshua expressed.

"I'm grateful for the hard work my coach Ben Davison and my dedicated team put in. A big shoutout to all my sparring partners for the support.

Special thanks to Francis Ngannou for his participation, which truly elevates the sport of boxing."

Joshua encouraged Ngannou to pursue his boxing journey further, reflecting on the powerful knockout during their encounter.

"Ngannou is an impressive athlete. After he got up from the knockdowns, I focused on staying consistent and composed.

Despite his strength, I believe he has a future in heavyweight boxing due to its unique challenges and rewards."

“You get the big punchers, you get people that are quick, you get thudding power, you get snapping like a lightning-strike kind of power, he’s up there in terms of power.

You could feel it in the clinch, I felt fine, I felt, ‘Hang on, I could probably take him in UFC’, but I’m joking! 

“He is strong but I stand my ground, it’s a fight, and it was in my favor tonight and we move onto the next.”

Joshua took some time to joke with the media, pointing out that he felt that many were tipping him to be upset by the Cameroonian, and that it would be Ngannou who would be standing in the winner’s circle.

“Half of these people thought he was going to beat me, I know I can see all you lot,” Joshua remarked.

“You lot all thought he was going to beat me, so I just do what I do, do my best, and I got the job done, but I don’t do it to prove anything.

I just do it for myself.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was quick to label Joshua as the baddest man on the planet with the knockout, but Joshua said he had no interest in the title.

“I don’t want that title, I don’t want that pressure, I just want to do my thing,” Joshua went on.

“I’m just keeping it simple.

I don’t want that title as the baddest man on the planet.”

Joshua was also asked about who he would like to face next, and specifically whether he wanted the winner of the May 18 undisputed fight between Tyson Fury – who was ringside last night – and Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk has two wins over Joshua, and asked whether he would like a third fight with Usyk for all of the belts, Joshua said:

“That would be good, but why not fight them both [Usyk and Fury]?

It shouldn’t really be one or the other, I should have the opportunity to compete with them both, and also not just those two, there are so many other fighters I want to compete with.

“Let’s keep on going, I’m not here forever, let’s make hay while the sun shines.

If there’s an opportunity to go again, I’m ready, June, July…”

Promoter Hearn was a happy and likely relieved man. He said:

“Tonight, I have seen one of the most devastating knockouts I’ve seen like from, in my opinion, the baddest man on the planet.

That is how you do it, that is how you deal with it [the pressure].

Source: boxingscene