Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou says he will undergo more medical checkups after suffering a brutal Anthony Joshua knockout on March 9, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Two-time heavyweight champion Joshua was heavily questioned for taking what was seen as a huge risk by going up against Ngannou, who surprised the entire heavyweight division when he knocked Tyson Fury down on his boxing debut in October last year.
However, Joshua put in arguably his most dominant and powerful performance in recent years to send a message to the entire division with his knockout victory over Ngannou.
The 34-year-old was in control from the first bell and floored Ngannou in the first round and early in the second. The former UFC champion never recovered and was clearly dazed when he returned to his feet the second time.
Joshua showed no mercy though and delivered an explosive right hand to send Ngannou crumbling to the canvas with the 37-year-old immediately receiving medical attention.
Ngannou still didn’t seem to have completely recovered when he returned to his feet and the Cameroonian fighter admitted he still needed to undergo some tests following the savage knockout.
“We move, but regardless I feel okay. I was quite surprised that I remember everything from that fight night and coming back to the locker room. Basically I was conscious right after and since then everything has been good, although (I) still need to run some medical work just in case.
“I feel healthy but for the longevity of the sport… we better check and find out if there’s anything that could be done to get better now… I still need more checkups.”
Joshua is now eyeing a summer fight against either of Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker or Zhilei Zhang before a potential title fight after the undisputed heavyweight bout between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
