In many ways Anthony Joshua and Conor McGregor could not be more different.
McGregor is the biggest name in fight sports – the ultimate showman and PPV cash cow in a game where hyperbole and outrageous sound bites trump all else. Joshua meanwhile is all business – a man who is not prone to outbursts to sell a fight, but rather a steely focus on preparation and execution.
This does not mean though that there is not admiration and respect between the two – they say opposites attract after all. Joshua spoke this week about McGregor as he prepares for that massive showdown vs Francis Ngannou in Riyadh on Friday night.
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Speaking to Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel, the two-time world heavyweight king explained: “Conor? Larger than life character. He’s someone that you can take inspiration from. Remember, we’re only here once and you have to love live life.
“A lot of people are like, each to their own, reserved, quiet and just getting through life. He’s someone that is at the forefront of live and living it to its full capacity in his own right – and I like that about him a lot. I like that about him.”
‘Notorious’ advice for AJ?
McGregor of course has figured in some of the biggest fights in UFC history, and a pretty major boxing bout too – that loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr in their much-hyped crossover match back in 2017.
So would Joshua ask the Irishman for advice in the countdown to a fight? For example, ahead of this Friday’s rumble with former UFC heavyweight star Ngannou in the desert.
“One million percent there’s mileage in talking to someone like Conor McGregor, and even if it’s just like a small gem. Something is better than nothing.”
Joshua and ring walks
One of the biggest deals of any fight night are the ring walks – something McGregor has made epic in recent years. Is this something Joshua buys into?
“They’re not so much, because fight focused fight focused,” he said.
“There’s nothing bigger than a victory. It’s not how you walk in; it’s how you walk out. That’s my opinion. But at the same time, I do know it’s not for me, it’s for the crowd. I only do it for the crowd. I’ve walked in with no music before. It is a job. You want to get in there and do your job at the end of the day. All of this stuff here, like Prince Naseem Hamed – what a an entertainer, he was one in a million – but it’s not for everyone.”
When is Joshua vs Ngannou?
The bout, as we said, takes place Friday March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ring walks are expected to be around 2300 UK time – that is midnight CET or 1800 on the East Coast of the United States and 1500 PST on the West Coast.
How to watch Joshua vs Ngannou live
The bout will be televised live by DAZN PPV globally – including the UK and the United States. You can also watch the bout live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK.
