Francis Ngannou is given new WBC ranking after stunning knockout by Anthony Joshua… with the MMA star vowing to return to boxing despite brutal defeat

Francis Ngannou’s new WBC ranking has been revealed following his knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua .

Ngannou was perhaps unlucky not to have his hand raised as the winner in his first fight inside a boxing ring, however it was a different story when he squared up against Joshua earlier this month.

The Brit showed his classed as he knocked Ngannou down in the first round, and twice more in the second to secure a dominant victory.

As a result, Ngannou has plummeted down to 24th in the heavyweight rankings.

Joshua meanwhile is No 1, ahead of Frank Sanchez, Agit Kabayel, Efe Ajagba and Jared Anderson.

Ngannou after his defeat admitted that he had no memory of the knockout. 

Ringside officials moved quickly to administer oxygen to Ngannou, who has since opened up about his knockout while speaking to fans in an Instagram live stream.

‘I was conscious right after [the knockout], and since then everything’s been good,’ he said. ‘I’m still going to run some medical work, just in case.’

The Cameroon-born MMA fighter, who is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League, is keen on making a return to boxing when the time is right.

‘Right now, I don’t know exactly what fight I’ll be looking for next,’ he said.

‘I know that I’m going to take some time to rest up, focus on myself, and then when I’m ready, I will get back to training.

‘It’s not over yet – not at all, We’re just getting started. The only thing that we will miss this year is time, and I think we have some good amount of time ahead of us.’

Despite his convincing victory in Saudi Arabia, Joshua urged Ngannou to stick with boxing immediately after the fight. 

Joshua said: ‘You’re an inspiration. You’d beat a lot of people. Don’t leave boxing – don’t leave.

‘Dewey [Cooper, Ngannou’s head coach] – don’t leave boxing, you know. This guy is the truth.’