Francis Ngannou vows to 'take Anthony Joshua’s soul' in disturbing message ahead of boxing clash

Francis Ngannou vows to 'take Anthony Joshua’s soul' in disturbing message ahead of boxing clash

WATCH NOW: Tyson Fury greets Francis Ngannou ahead of the fight with Anthony Joshua

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 31/01/2024

- 11:13

Updated: 31/01/2024

- 11:14

Ngannou will fight Joshua in his second professional boxing bout

Francis Ngannou has warned Anthony Joshua he will 'take his soul' during their fight in Saudi Arabia in March.

The former MMA star has vowed to beat the Brit, claiming his opponent doesn't have the strength to overcome him in the ring.


Ngannou will fight Joshua in Riyadh on March 8 in just his second professional boxing match following last October's loss to Tyson Fury.

Many felt the 37-year-old was on the wrong end of a rough decision from the judges after flooring the Gypsy King in the third round.

Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua

Francis Ngannou has vowed to take Anthony Joshua's soul in March

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He takes on a rejuvenated Joshua, who has won three fights since last April to get his heavyweight career back on track.

Joshua is the strong favourite to win and hopes to fight the winner of Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk afterwards.

But Ngannou is hugely confident that he will beat the former Olympic champion and has sent a chilling message.

He said on the High Performance podcast: "Never say never. Nothing is impossible. We don't know the strength of Anthony Joshua.

"Even though I don't believe he has that strength, we're going to find out. In two months, we're going to find out. I'm going to be the one taking his soul."

Ngannou won 17 of his 20 MMA fights before deciding to try his hand at boxing last year.

The Cameroon-born star opened up on the difficult journey he faced from Africa to where he is today.

He added: "The only person that will help you and change your life is you. It's not somebody who helped me or anybody that help me that make me who I am.

"Because, if you are a stupid person, they can help you as much as they want. You won't do anything. Your life depends on you.

"I made it in Europe inside a zodiac. The small inflatable zodiac. It was nine of us. [I did it for] The dream.

"I'd rather have a life without dream instead of having a dream without life.

"You seen all those people that have been rescued or died in the ocean every day.

"They know all the stories, they know all the worst thing that is happening there, that you have no idea. But they have no choice."

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Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will battle it out on March 8 in Riyadh

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Meanwhile, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn recently claimed Ngannou would be 'easy work' for his fighter.

Ngannou hit back by claiming Joshua won't be able to compete with him if he performs like he did against Fury.

As reported by the Mirror, he said: "Eddie is a promoter, that’s like a routine for me. It’s deja vu, he said the same thing all of the time just not about Francis Ngannou but about somebody else.

"That’s how he talks and what he does. The date is set, it’s two months from now and if any of them think it’s going to be easy money, too bad for them.

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou

Tyson Fury was given a huge scare by Francis Ngannou on his boxing debut

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"I’m just a beginner improving. No one still knows what I can do.

"AJ is a very tough fighter, but he’s easier to send down than Fury, and it’s harder for him to get back up than Fury.

"If AJ takes the punch that Fury took, I don't guarantee that he is getting up. I have heard that he doesn't have a chin, I am going to find out."

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