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Francis Ngannou owes a slice of his boxing fortune to a well-known friend before his fight against Anthony Joshua.
The former UFC heavyweight champion opted to fulfil his contract with Dana White's company rather than sign a lucrative new deal in 2022.
Ngannou faced scrutiny after leaving the promotion to pursue his boxing aspirations, seeking larger paydays against top heavyweights like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder.
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09:40 - 15.03.2024
Still going to run some medical check-ups - Francis Ngannou heading to the hospital after Joshua’s knockout blow
Following his defeat to Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou shared his reflections and plans moving forward in the boxing world.
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07:17 - 15.03.2024
‘Ngannou’s ranking was supported by WBC rules’ - WBC president defends MMA fighter top 10 ranking despite Joshua loss
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has doubled down on the decision to rank Francis Ngannou in the top 10, despite the former UFC heavyweight champion's recent defeat to Anthony Joshua.
Ngannou made his boxing debut last October against WBC heavyweight champion Fury, surprising many with a knockdown in round three.
However, he ultimately suffered a controversial split decision defeat, setting up another major bout against former two-time world champion, Joshua.
Ngannou debt paid
Their showdown last Friday showcased Ngannou as the novice he is, with Joshua dropping him twice before securing a brutal knockout win in round two.
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Nonetheless, Ngannou left the ring with an estimated £15.75 million payday, following his previous £7.86 million earnings from the Fury fight.
Fortuitously, Ngannou had received a substantial loan from his former UFC champion friend Kamaru Usman upon leaving the MMA powerhouse.
"He knew about stuff I turned down from the UFC during negotiation," Ngannou shared on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, as reported by Talk Sports.
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"Even my last fight in the UFC, you know I took $600,000 in my last fight in the UFC as opposed to $5 million that they were offering for the same fight. I was like, 'Bro.' And, I was broke, at the time. I owe Usman, I owe him $200,000."
Now, Ngannou can repay 'The Nigerian Nightmare' with interest, having become exceedingly wealthy thanks to his bold move.
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