Jon Jones doesn’t have a vested curiosity in Francis Ngannou’s future any longer now that they compete in rival promotions.
That being mentioned, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion nonetheless finds himself rooting for Ngannou in his upcoming boxing match, the place he faces Anthony Joshua in a showdown in Saudi Arabia on March 8. Ngannou already shocked the world when he knocked down Tyson Fury in his skilled boxing debut and practically pulled off an upset in a razor-close choice loss.
Now Ngannou makes an attempt to construct on that efficiency when he faces Joshua in his second professional bout.
“I’m rooting for Francis to win solely due to his story, how far he’s coming in life, him being a fellow combined martial artist,” Jones mentioned of Ngannou through the PFL vs. Bellator card on Saturday. “How might you not root for Francis? Francis is a superb, stand-up particular person. I’m rooting for Francis.”
As a lot as he’s rooting for Ngannou to win, Jones can’t choose the Cameroon native to get the job completed, largely as a result of he has numerous respect for the physique of labor Joshua has put collectively throughout his profession.
Joshua holds a 27-3 file in his professional boxing profession, together with 24 knockouts. He additionally claimed the gold medal in boxing through the 2012 Olympic video games.
“Anthony Joshua, he’s been doing this since he’s a younger boy, and I’m the kind of man that simply provides respect the place it’s due,” Jones mentioned. “If I needed to personally put my cash on it, not that I gamble, I’d put it on Anthony Joshua, however I’m rooting for Francis Ngannou. Sorry, Francis.”
Jones additionally addressed his future whereas nonetheless recovering from a torn pectoral muscle that stored him out of his beforehand scheduled matchup towards Stipe Miocic this previous November.
All indicators are pointing towards the battle being booked once more later this yr, however Jones hasn’t been cleared to compete but so no date is ready.
Jones has loads of choices for his future if he continues preventing past his matchup with Miocic as a result of interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains to be on the market, and he couldn’t seem on a PFL broadcast with out Ngannou’s identify being talked about as properly.
“I really feel like there’s numerous fights that the world desires proper now,” Jones mentioned. “The Tom Aspinall battle, that’s actually large. Francis Ngannou and I’d be actually large, and Stipe [Miocic] to the hardcore followers, it’s nonetheless a decent opponent. I don’t understand how the playing cards are going to fall.
“My prediction is that I’ll beat Stipe Miocic. My prediction is I’ll beat Tom Aspinall and Francis Ngannou. The way in which that it unfolds is admittedly not my enterprise. My job is simply to do what I’ve all the time completed.”
Jones gained the UFC heavyweight title with a lopsided win over Ciryl Gane, who additionally got here up brief in five-round choice when he clashed with Ngannou within the UFC.
Ngannou in the end left the UFC as heavyweight champion earlier than inking a profitable deal to affix the PFL, which additionally allowed him to pursue his dream to cross over into boxing. He hasn’t fought MMA in additional than two years, however many nonetheless imagine he’s one of the best heavyweight within the sport, no matter promotion.
For his half, Jones has no real interest in making an attempt to sway anybody’s opinion on that subject.
“I don’t really feel like I’m at a spot in my life the place I have to toot my very own horn,” Jones mentioned. “I feel my physique of labor speaks for itself. I feel my reception from the MMA lovers speaks for itself. I’ll simply depart it at that. I’ve by no means misplaced a battle. I’ll depart it at that.”
