Edwards Hearn, a British sports promoter, has criticized Francis Ngannou for his excuses of saying his defeat by Anthony Joshua was due to his early arrival at the arena.

Joshua, won the former UFC heavyweight champion three times in two rounds to secure a dominant victory in Saudi Arabia.

In a recent interview on the MMA Hour, Ngannou, had arrived at the Kingdom Arena, in Riyadh, two hours earlier than Joshua, appearing to suggest that this was a ‘trick’ to tire him out.

Hearn, Joshua’s promoter felt disappointed with his statement, suggested Ngannou ‘should know better’.

He told Boxing Social, ‘I was baffled. It is a bit disappointing really.

“He said they got him to the arena (early), who is they? You get given times by the broadcaster.

“He said that he was made to come to the arena early to tire him out for the fight, which is really an inexperienced boxing guy talking here, he should know better.

“You get your time, which is the ideal time that the organiser or the broadcaster would like you there, you make your own mind up.

“Some fighters like to get there three hours before, some like to get there an hour before, it all depends on the fighter.

“If AJ is told for example that “we want you there at 10 ‘o’clock” and we know that the fight is happening at 1am, then we would come a little bit later, because he doesn’t want to be hanging around that long.’

The promoter, also reacted to a social media post which contained Ngannou’s comments, stating: “I’m not sure he has come around yet.”

After the fight, Ngannou confessed that he couldn’t remember being defeated by Joshua and that from going back to his stool in between the first and second rounds, he ‘wasn’t there anymore’.